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What Scotland needs is smart global capital

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What Scotland needs is smart global capital

What drives the world’s leading tech ecosystems?

Exceptional university research with the potential for commercial spin-outs, well-structured incubators and accelerators, talented individuals, a culture of innovation and commercialisation, progressive policies, tax incentives, and – crucially – smart investment.




Scotland possesses most of these components in abundance, yet some integral elements are still missing.

Mark Logan’s Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review, published in 2020, outlined the steps necessary to foster a more entrepreneurial ecosystem that is supportive of innovation. A significant focus of the report was on nurturing talent by integrating STEM and business entrepreneurship into earlier stages of higher education.

Logan, now chief entrepreneurial adviser to the Scottish Government, also emphasised the critical need for increased international investment. I passionately support both of these points.

The question is how do we make this a reality and drive our ecosystem forward?

Last year, I proposed to Scottish Development International the idea of inviting global investors to Scotland to witness firsthand our dynamic sectors. Our approach was to curate sector-specific sessions that presented real investable opportunities to investors in high-potential startups across biotech and life sciences, climate and space.

We gained invaluable insights into what investors are seeking. When polled, many were interested in investing directly, yet 72% preferred channeling their investments through local funds aligned with specific sectors.

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