Lochhead chairs new group to boost technology – Daily Business

A group of experts will assist Scottish government ministers on how to maximise the economic benefits of Scotland’s technology sector.

A new Scottish Technology Council will help shape policy, provide a link between businesses and the Government, and promote domestic 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 Richard Lochhead 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.”

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.