DigiFest 2025 Demo Zone: Innovation in Action

Running alongside an engaging programme of talks and discussions, the Demo Zone at DigiFest 2025 offered something different: a chance to see, try, and talk through digital health and social care innovation as it exists in practice.

On 11 December, organisations from across the UK and Europe used the space to showcase tools already being tested, refined, or rolled out - and to have honest conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed next. For those who couldn’t make it along, here’s what you missed.

Game-Based Rehabilitation Designed Around Motivation

Lucia Panese, CEO of Imaginary, travelled from Milan to demonstrate RehAbility, a digital rehabilitation platform developed through more than a decade of European research.

Imaginary specialises in interactive games, and for the past 12 years has focused on applying them to tailored rehabilitation. Their system is now a certified medical device, built around a collection of around 50 games co-created with rehabilitation specialists and patients.

Rather than abstract exercises, the games mirror real physical and cognitive tasks. Therapists can design personalised therapy plans by selecting relevant games and adjusting parameters to suit individual needs. Patients then complete therapy independently at home via their TV, receiving immediate feedback through visuals and scores. Behind the scenes, more detailed data is collected for clinicians to review progress and adapt treatment plans.

Imaginary came to DigiFest through existing research relationships and used the Demo Zone to observe real reactions, test engagement, and continue conversations about how game-based approaches can support long-term rehabilitation adherence.

Self-Service Health Monitoring in Community Settings

Caitlin Collins represented Microtech Health, an organisation best known for supplying digital solutions to GP practices and community environments.

Their demo focused on the Surgery Pod: a self-service unit combining a touchscreen with blood pressure monitoring, height and weight measurement, and other vital sign checks. Patients can use the pod either before an appointment or independently, supporting more proactive engagement with their health.

The system also includes structured pathways covering areas such as smoking cessation, mental health, and alcohol support. These allow patients to record information and begin conversations with clinicians in a more informed way.

At DigiFest, Microtech Health was keen to connect beyond traditional GP settings and explore how their products might support wider health and social care partnerships. The Demo Zone offered a busy, practical environment to do exactly that.

Supporting Palliative Care Beyond the Clinic

Working in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, Kenny Steen from Tactuum showcased CarePac, a digital platform designed for palliative and end-of-life care.

CarePac supports patients who are unable to attend appointments, whether due to illness or geography by enabling clinicians to send regular check-ins. These can be completed by patients themselves or by carers, ensuring clinicians remain informed and can intervene when necessary.

The demo shared context around why this cohort was chosen, including patient preferences for receiving care at home and the challenges many face in accessing services. Screens and visuals gave visitors a clear sense of how the platform works in practice, without overstating its scope.

For the CarePac team, DigiFest was about visibility and connection - meeting health boards, sharing learning, and exploring where the platform could integrate with existing systems to support better care across Scotland.

Designing Digital Inclusion With, Not For, People

Dominic Jarrett and collegues attended on behalf of the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, sharing work focused on digital inclusion for people with learning disabilities.

Developed alongside partners including the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, OpenCast, and interns from Glasgow School of Art, the project explores how digital inclusion can be made practical and meaningful.

On display was a mix of case studies, frameworks, and a hands-on toolkit designed to support collaborative, playful conversations about digital technology. Rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all solution, the work encourages shared learning, helping people explore what digital tools can do for them, and how they want to use them.

The designs were intentionally colourful and inviting, reflecting the project’s aim to make digital inclusion approachable, scalable, and grounded in lived experience. The Demo Zone provided space to test ideas, gather feedback, and connect with others tackling similar challenges.

International Health Tech Collaboration in Practice

The Demo Zone also welcomed a visiting Indian health tech delegation, taking part in the UK–India Health Tech Accelerator Visit to Scotland, led by the British Embassy and the Foreign Office in Delhi. Building on two successful inward missions to Scotland in recent years, the delegation used DigiFest as an opportunity to connect with the Scottish health and innovation ecosystem.

Their focus included exploring clinical trial opportunities with NHS partners, understanding UK regulatory and procurement pathways, and developing routes to commercialisation, as well as establishing research and development collaborations with UK institutions and innovation centres.

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Together, the Demo Zone reflected DigiFest’s wider themes of collaboration, real-world application, and innovation shaped by people’s needs. It offered a space for practical conversation, hands-on exploration, and meaningful connections across health and social care.

We’re already looking ahead to DigiFest 2026, and the next opportunity to bring ideas, tools, and partnerships together in the Demo Zone.

If you’re interested in showcasing your work or taking part next year, please get in touch at: Vincenzo@futurescot.com