Tay Health Tech Gathering to explore healthcare innovation in Scotland
A diverse range of stakeholders are being invited to gather in Dundee to explore the drive for improved health and care technologies in Scotland’s most pressured regions.
Taking place on Wednesday 10 June, Tay Health Tech Gathering 2026 will share the progress of projects funded by the initiative, analyse the latest research impacts, support new connections, and provide attendees with more information about future plans.
Tay Health Tech works with regulators, researchers, and NHS Tayside to create an innovation-driven ecosystem designed to accelerate the use and impact of healthcare technologies in the community while reducing health inequalities.
InnoScot Health is part of the initiative’s steering committee and will attend the waterfront event, which is taking place at Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee.
Organisers are expecting a wide range of delegates from across Tayside and beyond. This includes representatives from health and social care, industry, spinouts, higher and further education, local authorities, as well as people interested in what MedTech can offer for themselves, their friends and family, and Tayside as a whole.
The Gathering will feature a programme of activities, including a discussion panel chaired by Elaine Gemmell, Head of Regulatory Affairs at InnoScot Health, and keynote speakers.
Highlights announced so far include a showcase of Grand Challenge projects, with opportunities for attendees to try out devices, speak with project teams, and provide feedback. Hazel Dempsey, North of Scotland Innovation Programme Lead at NHS Grampian, will also deliver a keynote speech.
The event will also include knowledge exchange and idea generation with Tay Health Tech’s civic partners as part of an extended lunchtime session.
Discussion panels will focus on why Tayside is positioned as a location for life sciences and biomedical innovation, as well as medical device regulation, including lessons learnt and advice for innovators.
The Tay Health Tech initiative is led by the University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and supported by a consortium of institutions.
These include the University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow, Edinburgh Napier University, NHS Tayside, Scottish Enterprise, InnoScot Health, Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Dundee and Angus College, SHARE, and BioDundee.
Elaine Gemmell said: “We’re looking forward to a busy and interactive day in the heart of Dundee.
“Last year, we called the event a ‘conference’; this year, we feel that a ‘gathering’ is more meaningful, better reflecting the event’s inclusive aims and programme of activities for a like-minded community of attendees.
“The ability to fast-track health service adoption of innovative technologies remains a vital asset to the ongoing initiative and that will be one of our key event themes this June as we target further transformation in healthcare delivery amid Tayside’s growing MedTech cluster.”
InnoScot Health’s regulatory expertise is supporting industry and academia involved in Tay Health Tech.
Elaine added: “Ensuring the safe and effective design of medical devices is vital to Tay Health Tech ambitions if all involved are to successfully innovate while reducing inequalities.
“Medical device innovators must therefore be able to navigate regulatory hurdles and have access to detailed knowledge. In that regard, the event will be advising on ‘lessons learnt and best advice for all innovators’ which we believe will prove useful.”
InnoScot Health called to early-stage innovators across Scotland to uncover solutions to unmet healthcare needs, inspiring both students and emerging NHS staff.
