Professor Irene
McAra-McWilliam, Head of the School of Design at The Glasgow School of Art, has
been appointed to the CAN DO Innovation
Forum it was announced today, Tuesday 20 May 2015. The announcement was
made by Chair of the Forum, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP.
Comprising senior representatives from business and academia, the forum has
been established to drive up innovation investment and help Scotland become be
a world-leading entrepreneurial nation.
McAra-McWilliam, Head of the School of Design at The Glasgow School of Art, has
been appointed to the CAN DO Innovation
Forum it was announced today, Tuesday 20 May 2015. The announcement was
made by Chair of the Forum, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP.
Comprising senior representatives from business and academia, the forum has
been established to drive up innovation investment and help Scotland become be
a world-leading entrepreneurial nation.
Mr Swinney said: “Scotland CAN DO is a platform for all
sectors to further sharpen our focus on creating sustainable economic growth.
Our vision is to make a Scotland as a world-leading entrepreneurial and
innovative nation – a CAN DO place for business.”
sectors to further sharpen our focus on creating sustainable economic growth.
Our vision is to make a Scotland as a world-leading entrepreneurial and
innovative nation – a CAN DO place for business.”
“The Forum will play a crucial role in driving forward demand for, and
investment in, business innovation ensuring that innovation can make a lasting
and positive difference to the Scottish economy.”
investment in, business innovation ensuring that innovation can make a lasting
and positive difference to the Scottish economy.”
The Glasgow School has
been in the forefront of developing design-led innovation in business through
the work of its Institute
of Design Innovation, which is based in Glasgow and in Forres, where
the GSA has been working in partnership with Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
been in the forefront of developing design-led innovation in business through
the work of its Institute
of Design Innovation, which is based in Glasgow and in Forres, where
the GSA has been working in partnership with Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
Full text of the Deputy
First Minister’s announcement below.
First Minister’s announcement below.
Ends
Further information on
the GSA
the GSA
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
Text of the Deputy First Minster’s announcement
Innovation to boost future economic activity
A shared vision on
innovation will help Scotland become be a world-leading entrepreneurial nation,
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said today.
innovation will help Scotland become be a world-leading entrepreneurial nation,
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said today.
Meeting for the first
time the newly appointed members of the Scotland CAN DO Innovation Forum will
be the leading force in creating greater levels of demand for, and investment
in, business innovation for the benefit of the whole Scottish economy.
time the newly appointed members of the Scotland CAN DO Innovation Forum will
be the leading force in creating greater levels of demand for, and investment
in, business innovation for the benefit of the whole Scottish economy.
Following the
publication of the Scottish Government’s Scotland CAN DO framework, the Forum
will compromise representatives from the private, public and third sectors and
academia, to:
publication of the Scottish Government’s Scotland CAN DO framework, the Forum
will compromise representatives from the private, public and third sectors and
academia, to:
- create a shared vision for innovation across
Scotland - stimulate demand for innovation from business
- drive up levels of business innovation
investment - stimulate economically productive links between
industry and academia.
Speaking ahead of the
first meeting, Scotland CAN DO Innovation Forum, Chair Mr Swinney said:
first meeting, Scotland CAN DO Innovation Forum, Chair Mr Swinney said:
“Scotland CAN DO is a
platform for all sectors to further sharpen our focus on creating sustainable
economic growth. Our vision is to make a Scotland as a world-leading
entrepreneurial and innovative nation – a CAN DO place for business.
platform for all sectors to further sharpen our focus on creating sustainable
economic growth. Our vision is to make a Scotland as a world-leading
entrepreneurial and innovative nation – a CAN DO place for business.
“The Forum will play a
crucial role in driving forward demand for, and investment in, business
innovation ensuring that innovation can make a lasting and positive difference
to the Scottish economy.
crucial role in driving forward demand for, and investment in, business
innovation ensuring that innovation can make a lasting and positive difference
to the Scottish economy.
“This Government is
focused on growing our economy and this new Forum will help to ensure that
Scotland’s economy is one where growth is based on innovation, change and
openness to new ways of doing things. The sheer diversity of innovation
that already exists in Scotland is something to be commended. Scottish
EDGE already stands as an exemplar of this approach and shows what can happen
when public, private and third sector partners work as one for the benefit of
growth orientated entrepreneurs across our country.
focused on growing our economy and this new Forum will help to ensure that
Scotland’s economy is one where growth is based on innovation, change and
openness to new ways of doing things. The sheer diversity of innovation
that already exists in Scotland is something to be commended. Scottish
EDGE already stands as an exemplar of this approach and shows what can happen
when public, private and third sector partners work as one for the benefit of
growth orientated entrepreneurs across our country.
“The breadth of the Scotland CAN DO
approach and our firm assertion that wider benefit to society, growth and
innovation do go hand-in-hand.”
approach and our firm assertion that wider benefit to society, growth and
innovation do go hand-in-hand.”
Background
In accordance with
Scotland’s Economic Strategy and Programme for Government, the Scotland CAN DO
Innovation Forum, chaired by the Deputy First Minister, will focus on
increasing the contribution that business innovation can make to the economy.
Scotland’s Economic Strategy and Programme for Government, the Scotland CAN DO
Innovation Forum, chaired by the Deputy First Minister, will focus on
increasing the contribution that business innovation can make to the economy.
List of members
Jamie Coleman –
Codebase
Codebase
Shane Corstorphine –
Skyscanner
Skyscanner
James Dunbar – New
Start Highland
Start Highland
Richard Erskine –
Statoil Technology Invest
Statoil Technology Invest
Prof. Patricia Findlay
– University of Strathclyde
– University of Strathclyde
Prof. Anne Glover –
Aberdeen University
Aberdeen University
Will Hutton – Big
Innovation Centre
Innovation Centre
Chris van der Kuyl –
Entrepreneurial Scotland
Entrepreneurial Scotland
Geoff Mulgan – Nesta
Professor Irene McAra McWilliam
– The Glasgow School of Art
– The Glasgow School of Art
Derek Norwood – Devro
plc
plc
Dr. Deborah O’Neil –
Novabiotics Ltd
Novabiotics Ltd
Erin Platts – Silicon
Valley Bank UK
Valley Bank UK
Ken Scott – Alexander
Dennis Ltd
Dennis Ltd
Dr. Tracy Shimmield –
Scottish Marine Institute
Scottish Marine Institute
John Waddell –
Archangel
Archangel
Kevin Baughan –
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Melfort Campbell –
Innovation Scotland Forum
Innovation Scotland Forum
Donna Chisholm –
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Cathie Cowan – Health
Innovation Partnership Board
Innovation Partnership Board
Paul Hagan – Scottish
Funding Council
Funding Council
Jim Watson – Scottish
Enterprise
Enterprise