Scotland to launch its first-ever innovation week  

Scotland will host its first-ever National Innovation Week later this year, the business minister has confirmed.  

Richard Lochhead said the new event “marks a pivotal moment to turn ambition into action and cement our place as a truly global innovation nation”. 

Set to take place between 22-26 September, the event is designed to showcase Scotland’s global leadership in cutting-edge technologies and industries of the future.  

As part of the four-day event, industry leaders and academics will gather in a summit in Edinburgh on 25 September, during which they “will drive forward shared ambitions and working across industries to deliver on ambitions and achieve global presence”, the government said. 

The summit will focus on the four key areas identified in the National Innovation Strategy – advanced manufacturing, energy transition, health and life sciences, and data and digital technologies.   

Lochhead said: “Scotland is a nation of inventors, creators and problem solvers. We invented the steam engine and the television and discovered penicillin. Today we stand at the forefront of the next wave of transformative technologies which not only offer immense potential for economic growth but also powerful tools to tackle the global challenges of our time – from healthcare and energy to climate change. 

“Companies across Scotland are speeding up the development of new drugs and medicines through automation, pioneering the energy systems of the future and developing the space and satellite technology to help tackle climate change – to give just a few examples.  

“It is essential that we seize these opportunities to benefit both our economy and society. Scotland’s first National Innovation Week marks a pivotal moment to turn ambition into action and cement our place as a truly global innovation nation.”