DHI at TCI Global Conference 2025
- Nov 3
- 2 min read
Strengthening Scotland’s Global Health Innovation Connections
From the 14th- 16th of October, DHI joined international delegates in Dublin for the TCI Global Conference 2025, a gathering of cluster leaders, policymakers, and innovation experts from around the world. Built around the theme, “Building a Global Economy,” the conference showcased how clustering and cluster collaboration can accelerate sustainable growth and drive impact across borders.
Led by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, and supported by the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, the three-day event enabled DHI to share Scotland’s experience in fostering digital health and care transformation, while learning from international counterparts working at the interface of healthcare, technology, and economic growth. DHI was also delighted to further engage with other Scottish participants from Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Government and Seafood Scotland
Spotlight: Health & Life Science Cluster Tour – Collaboration Across the Island of Ireland
Before the main conference programme began, DHI joined the ‘Health & Life Science Cluster Tour’ in Dundalk, one of four pre-conference learning journeys designed to immerse delegates in local cluster ecosystems.
The tour, hosted by the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Invest Northern Ireland, explored how the island of Ireland is nurturing an integrated health innovation landscape spanning digital health, life sciences, and medtech.
Delegates heard from a panel of cluster leaders including representatives from Ireland’s Connected Health and Wellbeing Cluster, HIRANI (Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland), MedLink Galway, and MET (Medical and Engineering Technologies Gateway).
Discussions centred on cluster strategies, innovation challenges, and opportunities for convergence across health-related sectors, themes that strongly resonate with Scotland’s own journey in building collaborative, impact-driven innovation ecosystems, enabled by quadruple helix clustering.
Breakout sessions provided a valuable forum for deeper dialogue, exploring topics such as Research & Innovation priorities, SME engagement, and the potential for cross-border and transnational partnerships. For DHI, the day was a chance to benchmark Scotland’s approach to digital health and care innovation and to identify new opportunities for collaboration.
Bringing Global Insights Home to Scotland
Throughout the wider conference, DHI participated in sessions exploring cluster measurement and impact, academic–industry collaboration, and digital innovation for resilient economies. International peers from Europe, North America, and Australasia shared best practice on how data, design, and partnerships can amplify cluster impact, insights that align closely with DHI’s vision for Scotland as a connected, digitally enabled health and care nation.
The conference also reinforced the value of cross-border cooperation.
From Ireland’s integrated approach to cluster development supported by its 3 enterprise agencies, to the growing emphasis on innovation ecosystems, TCI 2025 provided insight for how Scotland can continue to collaborate globally while leading locally.
