Call to action for area’s innovative businesses

SOUTH of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has called for the region’s businesses to get involved in the first National Innovation Week.

SOSE is working to establish the South as a place that embraces innovation, and is delivering Artificial Intelligence (AI) sessions, specialist scale-up coaching and an exciting new hub harnessing the potential of robotics, AI and deep-tech.

Taking place from Monday to Friday next week, Innovation Week will celebrate Scotland’s legacy of innovation while showcasing the country’s global leadership in pioneering the transformative technologies and industries of the future.

The themes are advanced manufacturing , data and digital technologies, health and life sciences and energy transition.

It also includes the National Innovation Summit in Edinburgh on Thursday, September 25, which brings together the industry and academia to drive forward shared ambitions.

Amongst those taking part in the summit is Lockerbie-based plastic roads company MacRebur, whose innovative products are used in over 30 countries across the world.

Russel Griggs, chair of SOSE, said: “The South of Scotland has long been an area of inventors and innovators and continuing that legacy by embracing innovation is one of SOSE’s key priorities for the region.

“Whether small or large, we want to support our region’s enterprises to innovate to help them become more resilient, grow, expand, and excel.

“There are so many fantastic, forward-thinking organisations in the South, and we will use Innovation Week to celebrate their successes and encouraging businesses to get involved in the Week’s activities.”

Business Minister Richard Lochhead added: “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.”