In any successful workplace, be it virtual or otherwise in today’s world, the ‘power of many’ is writ large – from common goals and like-minded thinking to higher morale, stronger motivation levels, and ultimately better results and greater productivity

Similarly, when one organisation successfully partners with another that has fully aligned aims, all stakeholders will benefit.

Taking place this week, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an opportunity for our nation’s innovators to be inspired to build back stronger for a better, more sustainable post-pandemic world, in turn helping to strengthen the Scottish economy.

GEW – organised by Global Entrepreneurship Network – will be celebrating its 15 years of helping millions of people who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life and drive economic growth.

More importantly though, it is an event which underlines the ever-greater need for ground-breaking collaboration. Effectively, its aim of engaging entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, and others to collaborate and advance economic growth and innovation in more than 180 countries around the world is only the beginning.

GEW recognises that many entrepreneurs and innovators face structural barriers and that most require systematic help in getting their ideas off the ground – in other words, meaningful support to accelerate and develop their initial spark of inspiration.

From a health and social care point of view in Scotland, COVID has marked a significant turning point in recent times; a watershed moment that facilitated faster healthcare innovation and adoption. It showed that, when developed correctly, great ideas could quickly become reality. It also further shone a spotlight on the incredible value and importance of hard-working NHS Scotland staff who are being encouraged to see themselves as innovators and the enablers of vital change.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is therefore a chance to really underline and act upon current healthcare needs by building a more sustainable, equitable post-pandemic world –driven by collaborative innovation that can help to tackle backlogs and deliver faster, more targeted treatment.

Innovation does not happen in isolation – it happens as a result of successful partnerships and complementary collaborations.

InnoScot Health is one such collaboration-led organisation, offering detailed know-how to primarily NHS Scotland staff in everything from initial idea evaluation to all points along the development pathway, including intellectual property and regulatory advice, project management, funding and investment, and commercialisation.

InnoScot Health believes that innovative ideas have the ability to significantly improve health and social care, while supporting an ambitious, entrepreneurial, forward-thinking Scotland.

However, we also recognise that our expertise can become significantly more powerful when married to that of others, creating a two-way knowledge exchange. Innovation-minded individuals and organisations have much to teach us – and in return we can offer much to help crystalise their ideas.

Indeed, through working in partnership with NHS Scotland for over 20 years, we have been and remain well-positioned to tap into the vast talent, entrepreneurism, and commitment of its staff, supporting improvements in patient care while stimulating economic wealth.

In doing so, our door has continued to remain firmly open. In recent times alone, we have partnered with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) on a forward-thinking and first-for-Scotland initiative that delivers a unique and growing suite of UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) decision support tools.

With new regulatory demands in mind, the tools developed through the partnership embed validated evidence in digital tools and systems in daily use by health and social care staff.

These have been created amid wider issues in navigating UKCA and other marking requirements and provide assistance to developers looking to overcome the challenges of navigating the regulatory process.

More recently still, InnoScot Health signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Heriot-Watt University which aims to fast-track innovation in medical and healthcare technologies and better understand clinical and nursing needs.

The agreement will see Heriot-Watt University's Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) collaborate with InnoScot Health to help bring new ideas and innovations from healthcare professionals to life.

This strategic relationship will initially focus on identifying new healthcare technologies and the development of prototype medical devices, by engaging with clinicians, doctors, nurses, and engineering students.

During the past two decades, we have continued to support our spinouts thanks to strong, enduring partnerships often formed during their earliest days – from innovative surgical devices, to promising stroke treatments and cardiovascular technology, these companies form an integral part of Scotland's growing life sciences sector.

We are also a trusted source of advice for SMEs which embody Scotland's innovative and entrepreneurial strengths.

When different skillsets are combined and unique viewpoints embraced, silos are broken down and new ideas flourish, creating a fresh wellspring of invention. Delivered carefully and with trust to the fore, innovation and collaboration can feed and build upon each other.

For Scottish innovators of that open mindset who are starting their journey, Global Entrepreneurship Week offers the perfect moment to start reaching out to potential collaborators and partners.