Cross-Sector Networking Hub Launches in Scotland
A new Cross-Sector Networking Hub has launched in Scotland which will draw on expertise and insight from people and organisations within life sciences and beyond to help address healthcare challenges.
Supported by The Academy of Medical Sciences (Academy) Cross-Sector Programme, The Hub will be hosted by NHS Research Scotland. It will bring together a network of active stakeholders, from NHS, academia, industry and third sector to develop synergistic, multi-sector approaches to explore and address areas of clinical need in Scotland and beyond.
In addition to networking events, access to funding schemes, leadership programmes and support for cross-sector working, the Scotland Hub aims to facilitate enhanced connectivity and collaboration across these sectors, support professional development, and encourage new and diverse perspectives to solve real world challenges in health innovation.
Welcoming the new Hub in Scotland, Dr Rachel Macdonald, Head of Programmes at The Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “We are delighted to have launched the Scotland Hub as part of our Cross-Sector Programme which is designed to facilitate collaboration across the UK.
“This contributes to our goal of providing a truly inclusive, UK-wide network, and maximising opportunities for skills development and fruitful collaborative interactions across the whole country.
“I look forward to working with the Scotland Hub team on an exciting range of events and supporting inter-Hub working.”
First launched in 2022, the Cross-Sector Programme was driven by research that showed a lack of understanding about working across sectors, and barriers to connectivity and movement of researchers between industry, NHS and academia in the life sciences.
The programme aims to bridge this gap, bringing together innovators, researchers, health professionals and policymakers working across the life sciences and related sectors through networking events.
The Academy also offers Cross-Sector Experience Awards which support individuals to gain experience, develop news skills and build collaborations outside of their own sector. It does this by funding up to £100,000 for individuals whose work has a clear link to the improvement of human health to work in a different sector for up to a year.
Similar hubs have seen success elsewhere in the UK
The launch of the Scotland Hub follows the successful launch of similar Hubs in Wales and Northern Ireland; and will soon enable collaborative UK-wide events, bringing together like-minded colleagues from all sectors across the country to work collaboratively on healthcare challenges.
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) at Scottish Government, will lead the Scottish Hub and said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Academy of Medical Sciences. Connectivity across the sector is vital, and the Scotland Cross-Sector Hub will add significant value to our continued efforts to develop, drive and deliver health innovation.
“We are fortunate to have fantastic talent here in Scotland, but we must continue to support and encourage researchers, health professionals, regulators, policymakers, patients and the public to work together to solve the major challenges facing healthcare.
“The Scotland Hub will be a key facilitator in this – providing stakeholders across Scotland with a focal point to come together and interact, expand their networks and engage with communities of like-minded individuals.”
The Scotland Hub work has already started with events on: Entrepreneurship and Life Sciences Industry Engagement in Health Research, Development and Innovation; Precision Medicine in Scotland; and Data and Digital Approaches to enable and enhance Clinical Research, planned from early 2025.
