A new Scottish Technology Council will help shape policy, provide
a link between businesses and the Scottish Government and promote
Scottish tech companies on the international stage.
The tech sector is already a significant economic asset and
employer. Latest figures show Scotland's 6,800 information and
communication technologies enterprises alone employed 67,800
staff in 2022 while the wider life sciences cluster supported
46,900 jobs in the same year.
Council membership includes industry leaders and academics with a
range of experience in international markets, including health
and life sciences, financial services, data and AI, advanced
manufacturing and space.
Ahead of the council's first meeting on Tuesday, Minister for
Business and Employment said:
“Innovation is part of Scotland's DNA. It is embedded in our
culture and our society – and it has the potential to turbocharge
our economy. From leading the industrial revolution to
television, ultrasound and pioneering renewable technology,
Scotland's inventions have helped shape the world around us and
transformed industries and lives.
“Our goal is to help Scotland become a leading tech nation. To
ensure the world recognises our pioneering spirit as not just a
thing of the past, but as a vital part of our future and to
create an environment where businesses and entrepreneurs can
flourish, develop new technologies and drive meaningful change.
“Our world is increasingly fast-paced and the council will
provide valuable insight from vastly experienced leaders in their
fields, who have built their careers at the cutting edge, as we
strive to support the sector to deliver high value jobs for
generations of Scots, boost international trade and increase our
tax revenue to deliver vital public services.”
Background
The initiative fulfils a Programme for Government commitment to
establish a council of global business and academic experts to
advise government on applying and benefiting from emerging
technological trends.
The council will be chaired by the Minister for Business and
Employment. Membership comprises:
- Prof. Qammer Abbasi, CEng, SMIEEE, FRSA, FEAI, FIET, FRSE,
Professor of Applied Electromagnetics & Sensing with the
James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow.
- Dr. Caroline Barelle MBA, CEO, Elasmogan which specialises in
Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Medical technology, Regenerative
medicine
- Michael Boniface, CEO, Kythera AI.
- Catriona Campbell MBE, AI Partner at Ernest Young and Chair
of the Scottish AI Alliance.
- Sherry Coutu CBE, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director,
Raspberry Pi Trading
- Gerard Cunningham, Board Member, Stem, Inc. 30 years'
experience in Silicon Valley.
- Sheila Flavell CBE, President TechUK. 32 years
operating within the international IT
space.
- Sheryl Newman, Founder and CEO, Appetite for Business - Board
Member, ScotlandIS.
- Prof. Peter Proud, CEO and Founder, Forrit.
- Prof. Michael Rovatsos, Professor of Artificial Intelligence,
University of Edinburgh
- Jim Rowan, Former CEO of Volvo, Former CEO of the Dyson Group
and Former COO of Blackberry.
- Prof. Ifor Samuel, Professor of Physics, University of St
Andrews.
- Dr Graham Spittle CBE FBCS FRSA Dean of
Innovation, University of Edinburgh.
- Prof. Melissa Terras (MBE FREng), Professor of Digital
Cultural Heritage, University of Edinburgh
- Elizabeth Vega OBE, CEO, Informed Solutions.
