Innovation Pipeline
University spin-outs play a defining role in Glasgow City Region’s MedTech cluster, shaping both its economic profile and its long-term growth potential. Many of the region’s most valuable and innovative MedTech companies originate in university research, translating world-class science, engineering and clinical insight into commercially viable technologies.
Despite representing a minority of companies in the cluster, spin-outs account for a significant share of overall enterprise value, underlining their importance as drivers of high-value growth. These businesses often operate at the cutting edge of diagnostics, imaging, medical devices and digital health, attracting investment, creating skilled jobs and building intellectual property with international relevance.
Central to this success, Universities provide the research foundations, talent and infrastructure that enable new companies to emerge, alongside support for intellectual property, commercialisation and early-stage development. In doing so, they act not only as sources of innovation but as anchor institutions for the wider MedTech ecosystem, helping to sustain a pipeline of new technologies and reinforcing Glasgow City Region’s position as a research-led, high-value MedTech cluster.
An Economic Cluster with High-Value Spinouts
Glasgow’s MedTech cluster consists of around 47 core companies, and while modest in size compared to the wider HealthTech sector, it punches far above its weight in value and innovation potential. Of these companies, 20 are university spinouts, of which 9 are VC funded - a ratio that reflects the strength of regional university research pipelines.
of Glasgow's MedTech cluster enterprise value comes from Spinouts
in VC funding from nine MedTech spinouts operating in Glasgow City Region
Glasgow's MedTech spinouts are showing a promising funnel of startups, breakouts and scaleups.
Explore the full cluster landscape here.
Glasgow's MedTech spinouts are showing a promising funnel of startups, breakouts and scaleups.
Explore the full cluster landscape here.
Microplate Dx is a medical diagnostics company focused on addressing the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance by radically speeding up how clinicians identify the right antibiotic for a patient’s infection. The company has developed a point-of-care diagnostic platform that combines novel hardware with proprietary data-processing algorithms to perform rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing, allowing results to be delivered in under an hour instead of the days required by conventional methods. Microplate Dx’s approach aims to enable more personalised antibiotic prescribing at the point of care, improving patient outcomes while supporting antimicrobial stewardship and helping to combat antimicrobial resistance, which is recognised as a major global public health challenge.
MR CoilTech specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced radiofrequency (RF) coils and hardware for ultra-high field MRI scanners. These RF coils are a critical component of MRI systems, directly affecting image quality and the level of detail that can be captured. MR CoilTech focuses particularly developing advanced MRI systems that allow researchers and clinicians to see anatomical structures in far greater detail than standard clinical scanners. The company develops highly customised, high-density coil arrays tailored to specific research needs, enabling more precise imaging of the brain and other parts of the body. What makes MR CoilTech distinctive is its combination of deep engineering expertise, close collaboration with researchers and clinicians, and its location within Glasgow’s Imaging Centre of Excellence, which allows new designs to be developed, tested and refined in real research environments.
Nami Surgical is a recent spin-out from the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics focused on transforming robotic-assisted surgery through miniaturised ultrasonic surgical technology. The company has developed a high-performance, compact ultrasonic scalpel designed specifically to overcome the size and flexibility limitations that have previously prevented ultrasonic tools from being used effectively with robotic surgical systems, enabling surgeons to perform procedures with greater precision, reduced trauma and faster patient recovery than traditional instruments. Nami’s innovative ultrasonic platform builds on deep research expertise in ultrasonics and aims to broaden the scope of robotic surgery by integrating advanced cutting and coagulation capabilities into robotic procedures — a sector of surgery that is rapidly growing worldwide.
We are very lucky that between the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, we have the largest base of ultrasonic research in the world.
Dr Rebecca Cleary - CTO & Founder, Nami Surgical
Academia Backing Industry
Universities are investing in a number of place-based innovation assets, allowing Glasgow MedTech companies to benefit from a variety of resources right on their doorstep
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is a global leader in biomedical engineering, imaging, precision medicine, nanofabrication, and diagnostics. Its spinout pipeline consistently produces companies with strong commercialisation prospects and international reach.
From microfluidics to AI-driven imaging diagnostics, Glasgow’s MedTech strengths often emerge directly from its interdisciplinary research culture. In partnership with the West of Scotland Innovation Hub and James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, the new postgraduate-taught MSc in MedTech Innovation is uniquely positioned to leverage Scotland’s triple helix dynamics that unifies academia, industry and healthcare, to nurture the next generation of innovators.
The university, in collaboration with STAC, recently launched Infinity G, a venture builder programme, focused on leveraging cutting-edge science and engineering to solve some of the world’s most pressing global challenges, with a view to creating sustainable and scalable solution.
University of Strathclyde
Driven by the Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices (SIMD) within its Biomedical Engineering department, The University of Strathclyde strengthens Glasgow’s MedTech capability through applied engineering, robotics, manufacturing, and prototype development. Focusing on interdisciplinary research, industry collaboration, and training through its EPSRC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) for medical devices, offering offering PhDs and MRes/MPhil degrees focusing on interdisciplinary research with industry and NHS partners to address real clinical needs.
Its role in orthopaedics, biomaterials, and device engineering complements the University of Glasgow’s biomedical and clinical strengths, creating a balanced regional ecosystem capable of supporting the full innovation life cycle.
Public–Private Partnership at the Heart of Glasgow’s MedTech Cluster
Glasgow City Region’s MedTech ecosystem is defined by strong public–private collaboration that supports companies from early innovation through to market adoption. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, universities, public agencies and industry work together to create an environment where new technologies can be developed, tested and validated in real clinical settings.
- NHS GGC offers clinical access, expertise and real‑world testing.
- Companies co‑develop solutions with clinicians through NHS innovation pathways.
- Key infrastructure (Health Innovation Hub, DHI, MDMC) supports prototyping and scaling.
- Universities create spin‑outs and co-invest in shared R&D facilities.
- Ecosystem aligns clinical, academic and industry needs.
- Model reduces risk and accelerates MedTech development in the region.
Part of The Living Laboratory and located beside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the new Health Innovation Hub builds on the success of the existing Clinical Innovation Zone. The development, a partnership between the University of Glasgow and Kadans Science Partners, adds an additional 65,000 square feet of flexible office and laboratory space, designed to support emerging precision medicine companies. By enabling new businesses to locate and grow on the campus, the Hub will drive high-value job creation and further strengthen the area’s established precision medicine cluster.
The Health Innovation Hub provides a highly connected environment for industry, offering close access to world-leading academic expertise, co-located commercial partners, and the hospital’s extensive clinical and research infrastructure. This combination of space, expertise and proximity to clinical care is designed to accelerate innovation, collaboration and commercial growth within Glasgow’s MedTech and precision medicine ecosystem.
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is a national asset with a strong presence in Glasgow City Region, playing a central role in accelerating the development and adoption of digital health and care technologies. Established to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world deployment, DHI works closely with industry, academia, the NHS and the social care sector to support the design, testing and scaling of new solutions.
DHI provides companies with access to clinical and care partners, user-centred design expertise and real-world test environments, helping innovators demonstrate impact, build evidence and navigate complex adoption pathways. By connecting digital health companies to frontline services and national programmes, the centre helps reduce risk, improve usability and speed up the journey from concept to implementation, strengthening Glasgow City Region’s position as a leading location for digital health and care innovation.
The Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) is a key national facility that supports the design, development and manufacture of medical devices. Based in the central belt and supported by five Scottish universities including the University of Glasgow, the centre provides specialist expertise and infrastructure to help companies translate innovative ideas into clinically safe, manufacturable products.
MDMC offers access to advanced prototyping, testing and manufacturing capabilities, alongside technical, regulatory and design support. By working closely with industry, universities and the NHS, the centre helps reduce the barriers associated with scaling medical devices, particularly for SMEs and spin-outs. Its focus on manufacturability, quality and compliance enables companies to move more efficiently from early-stage development to commercial production, reinforcing Glasgow City Region’s role as a hub for high-value medical device innovation and industrial growth.