Innovation in Scotland – opportunities and challenges

Primary Author or Creator:
Sanjam Suri
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Gillian Docherty, Charlotte Norberg, Mairi Spowage
Publisher:
Fraser of Allander Institute
Alternative Published Date
2025
Type of Resource:
Podcast
Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)
36 minutes
Fast Facts

Is there really a decline in innovation across Scotland?

More details

Scotland’s innovation success is increasingly driven by cross-sector, cross-disciplinary collaboration. No single institution or sector can address today’s complex challenges alone — whether it’s reaching net zero, transforming healthcare, or building ethical AI systems. 

While the data on innovation may show challenges, Scottish businesses are collaborating and innovating and can benefit further from collaboration as they seek to innovate faster and pool scarce resources. Collaboration leverages complementary strengths and promotes inclusive innovation that involves a multitude of stakeholders. 

For innovation to flourish, it’s imperative to have the right skills as technologies evolve and transform sectors. Innovation also requires upskilling existing workers across industries to maximize productivity benefits that come from technological transformation.

English