An NHS Scotland partner insists that accelerating cutting-edge MedTech ‘must be the prime focus’ of fresh innovation funding for Glasgow, giving a vital boost to the region’s health outcomes

Glasgow City Region — made up eight local councils — recently received the commitment to an award of “at least” £30 million as part of UK Government plans to enhance local economies through innovation.

The region is one of three devolved areas across the UK to receive funding, designed to push tech clusters by tapping into local expertise — “from AI to life sciences and beyond, to help unlock discoveries that improve lives,” according to Westminster — with more areas expected to benefit soon from a total of £500m.

Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health believes the circa £30m from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) represents an important opportunity for Glasgow City Region to maximise its MedTech innovation ambitions.

Innovation Commercialisation Manager Frances Ramsay said: “We consider this funding injection to be potentially transformative for patient outcomes in the region with MedTech innovation being so vital to unlocking healthcare improvements.

“Learnings engendered by this multi-million-pound boost can also be shared on a national scale so it will be of wider benefit to NHS Scotland’s ambitious innovators as well.

“However, while healthcare will undoubtedly be a key beneficiary of this new investment into science and technology, we believe it must be the prime focus. If health is improved through innovation, then we have people leading better lives, a more productive Scotland, and a faster growing economy.

“Glasgow City Region currently faces significant health challenges, including lower life expectancy and higher rates of certain diseases compared to the rest of Scotland.

“There are also clear health inequalities within the region, including stark contrasts in outcomes between neighbourhoods often sitting side by side. That must be a priority for action.”

UK Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation Lord Vallance said that the funding for Glasgow City Region could build “on its history of cutting-edge medical technology” and “help capitalise on the skills and drive that have earned that global reputation as a hub of science and technology”.

Partnerships between the city region authority, businesses, and research organisations are now set to collaborate with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on targeting the fresh investment in key tech areas including life sciences, green energy solutions, and artificial intelligence.

Frances added: “All of these areas have applications for improving healthcare — from life sciences assisting doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, to green energy solutions helping NHS Scotland to meet its net zero target of 2040, and AI supporting greater accuracy in the analysis of medical images.

“We now need specific opportunities to be identified and accelerated — but the clear end product must be to empower innovators and accelerate inclusive MedTech for better, healthier lives.”