Upcoming Innovation Events
We work to maximise opportunities for companies to interact with researchers and health and care professionals – a conversation can often spark new innovative ideas.
Keep up to date and find out more about the latest innovation events from across Scotland.
Public Sector Cloud Services, Infrastructure and AI 2024
Date and Time: Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 9:30 am – 16:00 pm.
Location: Edinburgh Dynamic Earth
Event Info:
Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Cloud Services Conference returns to Dynamic Earth in central Edinburgh on 24 September 2024.
The Scottish Government recently launched its new Cloud Platform Service for the public sector. This event will provide an opportunity for public sector organisations across Scotland to reflect on where they stand in their own cloud migration and explore future strategies for the whole sector.
Through a variety of interactive session formats, our revamped conference will delve into the progress made within the Scottish public sector, the complexities found as cloud journeys advance, and what the future might hold as we embrace Cloud and Artificial Intelligence.
The event will act as a premier opportunity for public sector professionals in Scotland to connect in person, learn and exchange ideas.
BOOK HEREPublic Sector Data Summit
Date and Time: 13 March 2025
Location: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 09:30am – 04:30pm
Event Info:
Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Data Summit will return to Edinburgh on 13 March 2025.
The use of data and AI across the public sector is on the increase. It is crucial that we understand how to maximise their potential to help us make informed decisions and improve public services.
Through a variety of session formats, including keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions and masterclasses, you will hear valuable insights on making the most of your data, how to store it securely, and how to address concerns around AI and ethics.
Public Sector Data Summit 2025 will also feature an exhibition, providing an opportunity for you to explore relevant solutions for your organisation.
The event is free-to-attend for those working in the public or third sectors.
Register HereDigitalScotland 2024 Conference Launch
Date and Time: Tuesday, 26 November 2024, 08:00 am – 17:00 pm
Location: Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Event Info:
DigitalScotland is the largest annual gathering of public sector technology professionals, where global govtech leaders share technology insights and lessons in digital transformation, leadership, skills, cultural change and data-driven innovation.
Due to feature 50-plus speakers from a diverse array of backgrounds, DigitalScotland is the leading forum to hear about how digital and data are transforming the way our public services operate and fulfil their mission to be modern, responsive and designed around the needs of citizens.
With a growing global ‘govtech’ movement, DigitalScotland is a must-attend for technologists and policymakers delivering the next generation of government services.
Find Out More
Health Inequalities in Scotland: The State of the Nation
Date and Time: Tuesday, 17th September 2024, · 10am – 16:30pm
Location: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Event Info:
Holyrood’s inaugural Health Inequalities in Scotland: The State of the Nation summit, is taking place at Dynamic Earth on 17th September 2024. The summit is free to attend and will bring together Scotland’s leading public health voices from the public, private and third sectors to share innovation, make connections and explore the practical steps that can be taken to inspire change and turn the tide.
Over the course of the day, sessions will:
Explore initiatives that have been successful in tackling health inequalities;
Discuss solutions to specific challenges such as smoking and obesity;
Consider the roles that different sectors such can and are playing.
Scotland's Health Awards 2024
Date and Time: 7th November, 2024
Location: O2 Academy Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Event Info:
he Scotsman are delighted to host the 2024 Scotland’s Health Awards in partnership with NHS Scotland and The Scottish Government.
Scotland’s Health Awards 2024 will celebrate the extraordinary achievements of those individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high quality health and social care to the people of Scotland.
These awards recognise the contribution of frontline health and social care workers but also celebrate those who work so hard behind the scenes in support roles to ensure we have the kind of health and care services that are vital in achieving the highest quality of care.
The awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place in November 2024 in Edinburgh and will be attended by over 500 guests from across Scotland.
If you are interested in sponsorship for this event please contact Rebecca Thompson for more details: rebecca.thompson@scotsman.com
Entries close on Sunday 18th of August 2024
Find out moreDesign Community of Practice
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Date and Time: Wednesday 28 August 10:00-12:00
Location: Online
Event Info:
At the August event, We will be joined by Tom Inns, Director of design & systems facilitation consultancy, Cofink Ltd. He is a Visiting Research Fellow at Strathclyde University and a Visiting Professor at Heriot-Watt University.
Tom will present design and systems thinking approaches that help us visualise our health and care systems from above, to allow us to:
- empathise with patient experiences
- collaborate more effectively with colleagues
- understand what data we do and don’t have
- plan improvements to drive system-shift
- What’s the community doing?
We’re really keen to hear what design projects you’re currently working on and will focus on this in the second half of the event, with discussion in breakout rooms, followed by feedback to the full group.
To secure your place, please register using the MS Forms link below.
Joining instructions will be sent prior to the meeting.
Registration closes on Tuesday 27 August, 16:00
Beyond the Idea: Business tools to support healthcare innovators in achieving success
InnoScot Health
Date and Time: Wednesday, 25th September, 12pm GMT+1
Location: Online
Event Info:
This free to join session will be a great opportunity for forward-thinkers to look beyond the idea with a focus on entrepreneurial business tools, skills and strategies for success
It will include an introduction to lean canvas and business model canvas, showing their value in refining and positioning a concept, and exploring market fit.
InnoScot Health has a strong record of translating innovative healthcare ideas to commercial reality. Part of this is ensuring innovators get the right advice, support, and signposting – identifying the right toolkits to develop healthcare value propositions is a key asset in doing that.
The webinar will be introduced and led by InnoScot Health’s Head of Project Management, Gillian Henderson, who will be joined by CPI’s Director of Business Development, Pharma, Alix Mackay.
Both speakers will offer their respective experience and expertise, providing a very insightful, practical-based session which will support innovators with ideas who are looking for the best tools and advice to take them to the next level.
Register HereEvidence Framework: how we assess health technologies
Date and Time: 10 September 2024, 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online
Event Info:
The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, is a national health technology assessment agency and we provide advice to NHSScotland on the use of new and existing health technologies.
We’re often asked what sort of evidence is required for a health technology to be given the green light for use in Scotland.
To help answer this question, we have shaped an evidence framework to help evaluators, technology developers, and decision-makers better understand what information is required to identify technologies of value to patients and the health and care system.
Our webinar, ‘Evidence Framework: how we assess health technologies’ provides an opportunity to hear more about our evidence framework from our three key speakers.
Please note, this webinar will be recorded. The recording will be held in the NHS Scotland Microsoft 365 environment for 2 months before being deleted. The recording will be made available to all internal and external participants and other colleagues who expressed an interest.
Please note that the recording will capture all attendees who are on camera and the audio of anyone who speaks during the recording. Text on the chat will not be captured in the recording. For more information or to raise concerns about how Healthcare Improvement Scotland processes personal data, please see our main privacy notice.
Register HereAdvancing Dementia Innovation: NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and Alzheimer’s Society Launch Event
Date: Wednesday 4th September 2024 5.30pm – 10pm
Venue: Tower Suites by Blue Orchid, 100 Minories, London, EC3N 1JY
Join NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) and Alzheimer’s Society on 4th September 2024 at Tower Suites, London at 5.30pm for the launch of a new, exciting collaboration.
This event is an opportunity to learn more about the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, its partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, and how we aim to support both NHS and non-NHS health and social care professionals working with people affected by dementia to get into innovation.
The event will be hosted by Professor Tony Young, Simon Lord and Dr Tamsin Holland Brown.
Who should attend?
Anyone who is interested in applying to the NHS Clinical or Patient Entrepreneur Programmes or those who are working in the dementia innovation space and are interested in the collaboration.
Register hereDigital Health and Care Scotland 2025
Date and Time: 18 – 19 February 2025, 09:30 – 15:00
Location: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Event Info:
Holyrood’s flagship Digital Health and Care conference returns to Dynamic Earth on 18 and 19 February 2025
Digital technology continues to be at the heart of efforts to support the recovery of our health and social care system following the pandemic, and respond to future challenges.
Bringing together representatives from across the public and third sectors with those working in industry, Holyrood’s annual Digital Health and Care conference will consider the latest policy developments and technological advancements.
Through a range of panel sessions, masterclasses and keynote addresses, delegates will have the opportunity to engage in discussions around remote monitoring, e-prescribing, AI and cyber security.
It provides a platform to collaborate and share learnings as we look to drive innovation and speed up implementation of technology within the health and social care space.
We are pleased to have developed the agenda with input from our advisory group:
– Jonathan Cameron, Deputy Director for Digital Health and Care at the Scottish Government
– Professor George Crooks, Chief Executive of the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre
– Alyson Scurfield, Chief Executive of TSA
– Karen Hedge, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Care
Register hereHeriot-Watt's Healthy Ageing Showcase
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 2, 1:15 – 5pm GMT+1
Location: Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus, Edinburgh EH14 4AS
Event Info:
Welcome to the Healthy Ageing Showcase!
The Healthy Ageing Showcase offers an opportunity to hear from the people leading and participating in a range of research projects. These include developing and trialling new and innovative technologies that support and enhance healthy lifestyles, to the ways our homes and urban environments can be designed to encourage opportunities for healthy ageing, to robotic and assistive devices enabling people with different needs to live independently for longer.
The event will be opened by Professor Linda Bauld (Chief Social Policy Advisor to the Scottish Government), followed by researchers representing the breadth and depth of activities in healthy ageing at Heriot-Watt. The event will also include a special session led by Katherine Crawford (Chief Executive Officer of Age Scotland) celebrating the involvement of people in shaping research.
Event Schedule:
Guest Arrival: From 13:30
Main Programme Commences: 14:00 in the James Watt Auditorium
During the event, there will be an extended break to allow participants to engage with interactive demonstrations and stands. These will cover research from Heriot-Watt as well as opportunities to meet with our community and charity partners. Refreshments will be provided during the break.
The event is being hosted by Heriot-Watt’s Health and Care Technologies Global Research Institute. The institute’s goal is to deliver innovative, sustainable, and user-inspired solutions through a co-creative approach. To learn more about Health and Care Technologies at Heriot-Watt, visit https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/research/health-and-care-technology.htm.
Assistance:
Heriot-Watt staff will be available throughout the event to assist you during your visit. If you require any specific assistance (for example, wheelchair access, induction loop), you will have the opportunity to request this in the registration form. The event will include BSL interpretation.
Directions:
The event is being held at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Campus (EH14 4AS), in the James Watt Centre. Full directions will be provided before the event. We encourage the use of public transport where possible. Accessible and general parking will be available.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Register here