Scottish Cities Alliance

Scotland is a nation that is known around the world for its spirit of innovation and the immense talent of its people. And innovation will be at the heart of the Scottish Cities Week, with the focus of the event centred on the Scottish Governments innovation strategy, and its four key themes, data and digital, health and life sciences, energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

The two-day event, which takes place in January, will showcase the high level of ambition and investment possibilities that our eight cities possess, and it will give potential investors the chance to get to know more about what’s going on across the country.

The inaugural session, taking place at Scotland House, delves into the dynamic realm of innovation. Focused on the innovation infrastructure and assets pivotal to generating novel ideas and cutting-edge technology, this session plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth. It shines a spotlight on the key innovation assets nestled within our vibrant cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling, Inverness, Perth, and Dunfermline. These assets serve as hubs that seamlessly bring together the right blend of individuals and organisations, cultivating an environment conducive to supporting and nurturing entrepreneurs. This synergy creates a virtuous cycle of business expansion, job creation, and competitive advantage—a driving force behind attracting inward investment and catalysing further research and development.

So, there’s lots to talk about, and we are delighted that the full programme will be chaired by Professor Greg Clark. He’s a top adviser on cities, mobility, built environment and urban innovation and the audience will get the chance to talk to the leaders of our eight cities about what’s happening now, and what the future has in store.

And we’ve got a great panel of experts, too, as we’re pleased to announce that Emma Frost, who is the Chair of UK Innovation District Group; Derek Shaw, Director of Innovation and Place, Scottish Enterprise; Pete Gladwell, Group Social Impact & Investment Director, Legal & General; and Susan Campbell, from the Scottish National Investment Bank, will be giving their take on Scotland’s innovation landscape.

After the panel, we will have small group discussions where the 8-City Leaders, and senior decision makers, will talk to the private sector with a view to developing long term strategic partnerships. Some of the key innovative projects that cities will likely talk about are;

Glasgow’s three innovation districts; Glasgow City Innovation District, Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, as well as its innovation accelerator programme. In the last five years Glasgow has consistently ranked in the top 20% of the Top 100 most innovative cities in the world and is ranked second in the UK behind London as an emerging tech destination.

Dundee University’s Life Sciences Innovation Hub, which is set to launch in autumn 2024 and is forecast to bring more than £190m of benefits to the local economy and eventually support 800 jobs in the city.

Inverness Campus. This is a top-quality, purpose-built facility spread across 215 acres that brings together businesses, scientists, academics, and researchers to collaborate on life sciences, digital healthcare and technology.

Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, which is attracting investors to the North East of Scotland and is committed to advancing business opportunities in the pursuit of net zero.

It’s helping the city to pivot from its place as the oil capital of Europe to a high-quality centre for renewable energy.

The Edinburgh BioQuarter is bringing world class medical research and health innovation to our capital city and is attracting investors who are committed to improving people’s lives by developing the latest and best treatments and cures. The project’s vision is to create Edinburgh’s Health Innovation District in a £1bn transformation that will be home to 20,000 health experts.

The Famous Grouse Ideas Centre in Perth is a facility that is designed to help business entrepreneurs achieve their goals and collaborate with other people. The centre provides technical and digital support and is helping to cement Perth’s reputation as a place for creative thinkers.

Stirling University’s Innovation Park is committed to encouraging sustainable business development from its base on the university’s impressive campus. The centre’s out of town setting offers space for people to develop their best creative ideas and it’s a facility that is equipped to meet the challenges that entrepreneurs face in the 21st century.

And near Dunfermline is the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus (AGIC), which will offer a high-tech manufacturing base for the UK’s marine and energy sectors. Bringing together Babcock International, two universities, the regional college and the Government, AGIC will offer a wide range of facilities and will bring the industrial and academic worlds together in the spirit of collaboration.

So as you can see, there’s going to be lots to talk about in London in January, and we look forward to showcasing the best of what the Scottish Cities have to offer.