Glasgow’s Health Ecosystem
An Ecosystem Enabling Success
Glasgow’s ecosystem offers real-life test environments where researchers, industry, clinicians and the public collaborate to create, test and refine healthcare innovations and solutions in real-world settings.
Empowers individuals to innovate
Mentorship and resources to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs
Real-world insights
gained from data generated and feedback from real-world settings lead to more practical and effective solutions to be developed
Involving a wide range of stakeholders
Ensure that diverse perspectives are considered and solutions more widely accepted
Ability to deploy technologies in real-world settings
demonstrates the viability (or lack of) products speeding up the innovation cycle
Healthcare Infrastructure Assets
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) is one of Europe’s largest acute hospitals and represents one of Glasgow’s most powerful MedTech differentiators. Its scale, diversity of clinical specialisms, and large local population enable companies to run trials, gather evidence, and undertake real-world validation at a pace unmatched by most UK regions. The clinical community, from surgeons and consultants to specialist nursing teams, has a strong track record of working with early-stage innovators, helping to shape products that are safe, deployable and clinically relevant.
The Living Laboratory is focused on translating cutting-edge science and healthcare innovation into real-world clinical settings strengthening Glasgow’s position as a global leader in healthcare innovation. It enables the co-development of ideas and innovations between industry, academia, and healthcare to support adoption into healthcare systems.
The Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL) is dedicated to driving the future of healthcare by providing the critical infrastructure and expertise needed to thoroughly assess digital health technologies. Composed of leading academics and clinicians, the DHVL is committed to integrating digital health tools into clinical practice ethically and responsibly.
Kadans is a market-leading developer, investor and operator of specialised assets supporting Science Clusters across Europe. They are present in 6 countries at 27 leading campuses with 70 assets over 600.000+ sqm. They own 2 key portfolio facilities across Glasgow in the West of Scotland Science Park and the new Health Innovation Hub.
Patient Populations
Access to a willing and diverse patient population is one of Glasgow’s most valuable assets. Through NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the region serves a large urban population with a wide range of ages, backgrounds, health conditions and care needs.
This scale and diversity create the conditions for inclusive clinical research and real-world evaluation - higher patient volumes make it easier to recruit to studies, while diversity in socio-economic background, long-term conditions and co-morbidities strengthens the relevance of clinical findings.
As regulators and healthcare systems place increasing emphasis on real-world evidence and equitable outcomes, Glasgow’s patient base allows companies to build stronger cases for regulatory approval, reimbursement and adoption across multiple markets.
Innovation Districts
Glasgow’s innovation districts create the physical and collaborative infrastructure needed for medtech innovation. The Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) brings together engineering, digital technology, health research, and creative industries within one connected geography. The Innovation District surrounding the QEUH further deepens the link between clinical environments and early-stage innovators.
These districts enable something few other cities can offer at this scale: the ability for clinicians, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, and patients to co-design solutions in close proximity. For MedTech companies — especially those iterating rapidly — this access shortens feedback loops and accelerates the path from concept to clinical deployment.
We have access to all patients groups, all clinical specialities – so there isn’t any health area we couldn’t help test and support developing MedTech solutions.
Prof. Jesse Dawson - Director of Research and Innovation, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Annual outpatient visits in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Additionally with half a million inpatient visits, the region presents a diverse clinical settings to evaluate medtech solutions across preventative, acute and chronic care pathways.
GP contacts annually in Glasgow City Region
With contracts covering around 232 GP surgeries, the healthcare footprint offers rich engagement points for adoption studies and longitudinal monitoring.
A Region Built Around Data-Driven Health Innovation
Scotland’s health data infrastructure is globally recognised for its scale, quality, and governance. Glasgow benefits from secure platforms like the Safe Havens, enabling ethical, privacy-preserving access to real patient data.
Key Advantages:
- Secure, high-quality data: Platforms like Safe Havens ensure compliance with regulations
- Supports medtech innovation: Access to longitudinal data enables algorithm training, effectiveness testing, and real-world evidence
- Clinical integration: Research-active NHS partners and hospitals allow testing in real care settings
- Robust evidence generation: Combines data with clinical insight to reduce adoption risk
- Collaborative ecosystem: Strong culture of partnership accelerates credible, scalable solutions for international markets
Smart Technologies Shaping Modern Healthcare
Data‑driven technologies enable more proactive and personalised care across multiple settings.
These include:
- AI-enabled diagnostics
- Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)
- Wearables and remote monitoring tools
AI‑enabled diagnostics support clinicians by rapidly analysing medical images, spotting early signs of disease such as cancer or stroke risk. Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) delivers algorithm‑based decision tools, from digital triage systems to apps that adjust treatment plans for conditions like diabetes or respiratory disease. Wearables and remote monitoring devices track heart rate, oxygen levels, movement or glucose in real time, allowing clinicians to detect deterioration earlier, manage long‑term conditions remotely and reduce unnecessary hospital visits.
