Innovation Fellowship

The Chief Scientist Office funds and manages two CSO Innovation Fellowships schemes.  

These Fellowships aim to strengthen the innovation culture within NHS Scotland and solve real problems in the NHS and social care, improving the quality, efficiency and sustainability of health and care delivery while supporting NHS Scotland’s Recovery Plan.  

As Innovation Fellows, NHS Scotland staff receive support while developing an innovation career within their post.  

NHS Scotland Innovation Fellowship 

The NHS Scotland Innovation Fellowship is designed for existing and established NHS Scotland staff working in a clinical role. It funds protected time (2 sessions per week for two years) for Fellows to contribute to, conduct and lead innovation projects. 

The first cohort was launched in July 2022 and will run for two years. From a competitive application process, nine fellows were selected, with three from each region (North, South-East, West).  

Watch CSO / NHS Scotland Innovation Fellows Dr Yvonne Chun and Dr Joyce Henderson, from Health Innovation South-East Scotland, speak about their innovation projects: 

Learn about North of Scotland Innovation Hub and CSO Innovation Fellow, Dr Gerald Lip’s project MIA, an AI tool designed to spot early-stage cancer signs in mammograms:  

You can read more about our current CSO / NHS Scotland Innovation Fellows and their projects here: CSO NHS Innovation Fellowship – Chief Scientist Office . 

CSO Innovation Academic Fellowship 

The CSO Innovation Academic Fellowship is targeted at early-stage innovators working within NHS Scotland. It provides the opportunity for clinicians early in their career to undertake a higher degree (MD or PhD). The scheme is 100% funded, including university fees. 

This programme is designed so CSO Innovation Academic Fellows can expand their knowledge, skills and experience to become future leaders in research, development and innovation (RD&I) with NHS Scotland. They engage with healthcare and industry partners to develop innovative products, services or devices. As Fellows, they will assist in transforming the design and delivery of health and social care in a sustainable way, to provide high-quality, timely and accessible services. 

A first cohort of two Fellows started their projects in Autumn 2023. Learn more about them and their projects here or watch their interviews below:  

Three new Fellows have now been appointed and will begin working on their projects from August 2024. You can meet them and learn about their projects on this page: New CSO Innovation Academic Fellows Appointed – Chief Scientist Office