Several of Scotland’s Business Week initiatives are ready for launch, creating exciting regional platforms for inspiring innovation, entrepreneurism, and growth

Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health believes they represent an important grassroots wellspring of ideas – an essential part of the collaborative ecosystem which the country needs during this key period of transformation.

With Forth Valley, the Highlands, Ayrshire, and Fife all embarking on their own business weeks over the next two months, Executive Chair of InnoScot Health, Graham Watson says they are a “celebration of resilience and the progressive, enterprising spirit which is at the very heart of our communities”.

Graham insists that Scotland “continues to respond well to challenges by remaining resilient, agile, and innovative both domestically and internationally – and many great ideas will be kickstarted by these Business Weeks with healthcare initiatives among them”.

For example, Forth Valley Business Week – themed ‘Navigating Change’ – takes place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 September.

Organisers say the week will be characterised by “innovation, exploration, and insight” with its events exploring “how businesses can navigate the challenges and opportunities that change brings”.

Events include An Introduction to AI from Falkirk Business Hub, a discussion around Planning for Net Zero and Beyond from Alloa Business Centre and Emerge Women from Stirling University Innovation Park.

“The week brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policy setters to engage in 14 change themed events at venues in Clackmannanshire, Stirling, and Falkirk,” organisers add, with speakers including industry leaders such as Techscaler.

Highland Business Week will take place from Monday 23 to Friday 27 September and features networking opportunities and seminars along with a Highland Spotlight business exhibition and Highland Business Awards lunch.

The week also includes a workshop entitled Innovation, It’s Easier Than You Think which is described as “an essential first step in developing a sustainable innovation culture for your organisation,” stating that “Ideas are only the beginning of the journey, after that it's like the baton in a relay race, diversity of people, of mindset and of skills that get the idea over the finishing line.

Organisers, the Inverness Chamber of Commerce say, “it's a brilliant opportunity for the Highland business community to get together and be inspired and informed” through “crafted events, workshops or masterclasses that inform, inspire and educate”.

Following close behind from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October is Ayrshire Business Week which is “designed to help you develop your business as part of the ultimate business network” and is organised by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce with the topic of digital connectivity featuring throughout.

Kicking off the week on 30 September will be an event entitled Connected Ayrshire: Digital Connectivity for a Sustainable Future, which will focus on the critical role of digital infrastructure and innovation in driving the region's economic growth.

Chamber CEO, Claire Baird, said: “This event marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards making Ayrshire a leader in digital connectivity and innovation, and we are thrilled to be a part of this transformation.”

On 2 October, there will also be a session on Harnessing Digital for Business Success focusing on “Driving growth, the benefits of Digital and AI”.

Finally, Fife Business Week will take place from Monday 4 to Friday 8 November, offering “a programme of inspiring workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities, in person and online”.

Delivered by Fife Council Economic Development and administered by Business Gateway Fife under the collective banner of InvestFife, this year’s calendar of events will be linked around current key priorities in Fife’s Economic Strategy.

It is considered “an excellent opportunity to share best practice and give sound advice to new and growing businesses, to help boost their sustainability and growth for the years ahead”.

Events will include Cool Tools for AI Success on 4 November and a Rapid Prototyping Centre Demonstration & Social Event on 6 November.

Graham Watson continued: “We look forward to seeing what innovative, entrepreneurial ideas can emerge from these engaging Business Weeks. There is clearly a strong grassroots pipeline still in evidence across Scotland, and we should take great inspiration from that.

“Since our inception two decades ago as a key NHS partner, InnoScot Health has formed six spinout companies, evaluated over 2200 ideas, and successfully integrated 255 of them into healthcare settings in Scotland and around the world.”

A spinout of InnoScot Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the University of Glasgow, Aurum Biosciences is developing a novel drug for therapeutics and multiple diagnostics, in areas of unmet clinical need such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and inflammatory imaging.

CardioPrecision – a specialist in less invasive treatment of structural heart disease – was originally spun out of the NHS through InnoScot Health. Earlier this year, the company played a leading role in bringing the world’s first robotic aortic valve replacement, through a tiny incision in the neck, significantly closer to reality.

InnoScot Health works with and supports innovators across NHS Scotland to encourage translation of ideas and innovations into viable products that improve patient care.