Enterprise and innovation agencies join forces in new framework
16th November 2025
Scotland's three enterprise agencies have joined the UK's national innovation agency to agree a collaboration framework that aims to help Scotland become one of the most innovative small nations in the world.
The Innovation Collaboration Framework for Scotland brings together Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Innovate UK with a commitment to support ambitious businesses to invest in research to drive economic growth, create good jobs and help tackle major societal and environmental challenges.
The new framework complements the Scottish Government's National Innovation Strategy which focuses on priorities including energy; health and life sciences; advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies to boost economic growth and global competitiveness.
In a joint foreword to the framework document, chief executives Stuart Black (HIE), Adrian Gillespie (SE) and Jane Morrison-Ross (SOSE), write:
"We are delighted to present this Innovation Collaboration Framework for Scotland, setting out how key agencies responsible for supporting innovation in Scotland will work together with Innovate UK.
"By taking these steps to align all our innovation ambitions we can improve our innovation services and in turn the number of businesses looking to innovate in Scotland."
Innovate UK will work with the enterprise agencies across three priority areas:
Supporting the customer journey - from idea to commercial reality, providing a more coherent and effective support offering to innovators.
Targeting support services to connect local businesses with regional and national strengths and opportunities.
Improved place-based innovation support - collaborating with partners to build-up regional strengths and drive competitive advantages across Scotland.
This work builds on Innovate UK's 'Place' work, which has already formalised strategic partnerships to delivered 10 Local Action Plans, with more in development.
