Scotland Launches ‘AI Discovery’ to Foster DeepTech AI Startups for NHS Healthcare Innovation

A new programme titled AI Discovery has been launched in Scotland to bridge advanced academic research with real-world healthcare applications through AI-enabled startups. Led by CodeBase through its government-backed Techscaler initiative, the programme is a collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and NHS Scotland. It is designed to help postgraduate students apply AI research to pressing challenges in healthcare, particularly within the NHS.

The initiative targets students from disciplines including computer science, mathematics, microbiology, and medicine, offering them a structured nine-week programme of workshops, product development sessions, and hackathons. The goal is to equip them with the skills to translate academic research into commercially viable healthcare technologies. Up to 30 postgraduates will participate in the pilot phase.

According to David Lowe, Director of Clinical Innovation at the University of Glasgow and Clinical Lead Health CSO at The Scottish Government, the programme has potential to catalyze innovation in NHS workflows and accelerate the development of new bioentrepreneurial ventures. Current participants include researchers working on contactless AI-powered health monitoring systems.

The programme builds on the broader Techscaler framework, which has reportedly supported around 1,000 startups since its launch, with member companies raising nearly £120 million in its first two years. One example cited is Infix Support, an AI-based software company focused on optimizing operating theatre efficiency across NHS Health Boards in Scotland.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the initiative as a valuable collaboration across business, academia, and the public sector, aimed at scaling AI solutions in healthcare. The launch follows a World Economic Forum report that noted healthcare adoption of AI remains below average compared to other sectors, underscoring the need for targeted efforts like AI Discovery.

Topics: Bioeconomy & Society