Member Profile

Scotland

Presentation of the Region

There is a new entrepreneurial spirit emerging in Scotland that recognises the social as well as economic benefits of innovation and collaboration. The Vanguard Initiative provides an excellent platform from which we can work with our European partners to deliver our shared aspirations for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Scottish Government has set out its approach to establishing the foundations for long-term economic prosperity and the policy levers which will drive growth most effectively in its Government Economic Strategy.

The Scottish Government has a vision for national wellbeing, established in 2018. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said at the launch of the framework which underpins the vision, “the Scottish Government recognises that economic growth is hugely important, but it must be matched by improvements in our environment, in people’s quality of life, in the opportunities available to people and the public services they have access to.”

Scottish Enterprise supports the Scottish Government’s approach to inclusive growth and the wellbeing economy, outlined in Scottish Enterprise’s Strategic Framework. Scottish Enterprise noted that we now need to make an emphatic shift back towards our original purpose and to make sure we are playing our part to deliver for the whole economy; working with business to create more quality jobs that help reduce poverty and support businesses, communities and families across Scotland.

RIS3 Priorities

Scotland continues to be an outward looking nation, and in September 2019, Scottish research and innovation stakeholders published their position paper on the strategic priorities of the Horizon Europe framework programme 2021-2027, in response to the European Commission’s consultation. Input from numerous Scottish universities and other public and private stakeholders was included, and demonstrates the value of relationships with European counterparts, which work and add value through mutual trust, learning, personal bonds and strong shared values.

Scotland remains committed to the Vanguard Initiative network and working in partnership with our European colleagues. The Scottish Government has recently published the Scottish Perspective on the European Union's Strategic Agenda 2020-2024, which focuses on how Scotland sees the EU's priorities for the period ahead and explaining why these are of vital importance to Scotland and how Scotland can contribute to their delivery.

Political Representatives
Ivan McKee

Minister for Trade, Innovation and Public Finance, Scottish Government

Regional Address

St. Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH13DG
United Kingdom

Brussels Office Address

Rondpoint Schuman 6
Etterbeek
1040 Brussels
Belgium

Our Pilots

Vanguard Initiative workshop at the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC): Connecting Regional Innovation Ecosystems:

The Vanguard Initiative (VI) workshop organised in the framework of the EWRC, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss how European

VI at the European Week of Region and Cities

Vanguard Initiative, jointly with the VI Regions East Netherlands, Asturias, Baden Württemberg, East and North Finland, Emilia Romagna, Scotland, Slovenia, and South Neth

mills, sea, copenhagen
Progress update from the Adma Energy pilot

ADMA Energy: Actions and priorities for 2021 The ADMA Energy Pilot action plan builds on the work carried out in 2020 and aims at presenting the expected object

windmills, fields, sunset
ADMA Pilot updates January - April 2020

With the completion of the NeSSIE project in 2019 and the Pilot Action on Sens

entrepreneur, idea, competence
ESM and Bioeconomy Pilots successful in TAF-applications

Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), launched by the European Commission as a tool to support Smart Specialisation Platforms (S3P) -Industry investment projects has been open for a second assessmen

Conference to showcase the “NeSSIE approach”

On 24th April, the NeSSIE project organised a conference in Brussels to showcase the NeSSIE approach in defining and developing investable business cases for offshore, anti-corrosion demonstration

Packaging the Future: Transitioning to a Re-use System for Packaging

Zero Waste Scotland and Scotland Europa are delighted to invite you to a panel discussion taking place in Scotland House Brussels on Thursday 16 November, at 16

renewable energy, environmentally friendly, concept
CONFERENCE: REGIONAL DECARBONISATION STRATEGIES AND ACCESS TO FINANCE

CONFERENCE: REGIONAL DECARBONISATION STRATEGIES AND ACCESS TO FINANCE

St Andrew's Lecture 2021 ''A Fairer, Greener Scotland – the role of innovation in building a planet fit for

Scotland House Brussels is delighted to invite you to the 2021 edition of our annual St Andrew’s Lecture, taking place online on Wednesday

ISLANDS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES - Transitioning to Net Zero

As part of EU Sustainable Energy Week 2021, Scotland House Brussels is delighted to invite you to the last in

EWRC: Connecting Regional Innovation Ecosystems: Interregional Value Chains to spur the Digital transition

Vanguard Initiative, jointly with the VI Regions East Netherlands, Asturias, Baden Württemberg, East and North Finland, Emilia Romagna, Scotland, Slovenia, and South Neth