Techscaler Annual Report – Interview with the Chief Scientist Office
Our Techscaler partners have published their first Annual Report for the year 2023 today, highlighting their achievements in supporting Scottish startups and innovators to grow and develop.
In a foreword to the report, Chief Scientist for Health, Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, underlined the pivotal role played by Techscaler in mobilising and supporting Scotland’s health innovators to develop innovative solutions that will benefit patients and help transform the NHS.
Our CSO National Clinical Director of Innovation, Professor David Lowe, in an interview featured in this Annual Report explained how the CSO / Techscaler partnership enhances collaboration between academia, industry, and the NHS to support the growth of innovative health solutions for the benefit of the NHS and the thriving life science sector here in Scotland.
You can access the full Techscaler Annual Report – 2023 here: Techscaler Annual Report 2023
Read more about the CSO X Techscaler partnership here: CSO and Techscaler Partnership – Chief Scientist Office
Professor David Lowe,
Clinical Director of Innovation at the Chief Scientist Office
“Scotland’s life sciences sector is one of the key sectors for transformative economic growth”, says David Lowe, Clinical Director of Innovation at the Chief Scientist Office (CSO). “However, for companies, it can be a challenge to get access to clinical experts and understand care pathways.”
The Chief Scientist Office plays a vital role in Scotland’s healthcare, with a focus on advancing health research and innovation. It provides the infrastructure for health, research, and innovation, and supports collaboration across the triple helix of NHS, industry, and academia.
The partnership with Techscaler is designed to enhance these collaborations and support the growth of innovative health solutions for the benefit of NHS and the economy. “CSO recognises the opportunity specifically in life sciences within the NHS”, says Lowe. “And the Techscaler collaboration paves the way for companies to pilot new health products and technologies in clinical settings throughout Scotland.”
Lowe illustrates this: “A company has a solution for managing frail people in the home. The relationship with NHS Scotland will give them appropriate access to secure anonymised data, validation, and evidence of clinical effectiveness.” As a result, the partnership will accelerate the development of transformative innovations for the NHS within a supportive framework.
Entrepreneurial training is also a focus, as Lowe notes the significance of leveraging NHS Scotland’s position as the largest employer in the country with a hugely knowledgeable, diverse, and passionate workforce. The collaboration between CSO and TechScaler will not only enhance companies’ understanding of their business models, and augment their expertise, it will also benefit patients and medical staff as they develop new products and technologies for use across NHS and gain new entrepreneurial skills. The intersection of NHS and Techscaler involves participation in events, community engagement, and mentorship provision.
Looking ahead, Lowe states that unlocking the full potential of the life science sector means providing appropriate support at all stages. “Health tech is a booming area, so organisations need to be clear on what their value proposition is, especially in such a competitive landscape.” Businesses going through these programmes also gain exposure to venture capital firms to access funding as a startup and to ensure their sustained presence and growth. It is all part of ensuring Scotland is the best location for life science companies.