Spotlight on Rural Innovation: UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill Visits DHI’s Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health & Care Innovation in Moray
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
On Thursday, 28th August, the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) welcomed Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill to the Rural Centre of Excellence (RCE) in Moray — a pioneering hub driving forward next-generation digital health and care solutions.
The £5m Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health and Care (RCE), funded by the UK Government as part of the Moray Growth Deal and managed and delivered by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), aims to advance Scotland's digital health agenda and support economic recovery. It includes a Demonstration & Simulation Environment (DSE) in Elgin and Living Labs for innovation collaboration across Moray.
Established in early 2022, the RCE was designed to develop scalable digital innovations with the potential to be deployed nationally and internationally and co-designed with rural communities. The Centre has played a vital role in supporting economic and societal recovery by creating high-value jobs, fostering research and development, and addressing the digital skills gap across the region.
A standout achievement of the RCE is the creation of a Demonstration and Simulation Environment — a hybrid physical and cloud-based infrastructure focused on person-centred care located in Elgin at the Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health. Leveraging Living Lab methodologies and DHI’s innovation process model, the RCE has attracted strategic partners, delivering tangible benefits for both Moray and the wider UK.
Key Impacts:
Economic Growth: The RCE has directly contributed to the creation of more than 10 new jobs and leveraged over £2 million in additional R&D funding for Moray and the wider region. New services and products are being tested and transferred to other regions, and additional capacity for research and innovation is being focused on community research and network-building activities.
Digital Inclusion & Skills Development: The Centre has championed digital inclusion across a number of initiatives, empowering individuals to become digital and research champions, strengthening the pipeline of talent in the region.
Service Co-Design & Innovation: Moray has become a testbed for co-designing future-ready health and care services in collaboration with citizens and local partnerships. This person-centred approach enables solutions that are demand and user-led to be developed and is enabled by the Glasgow School of Art’s Highlands & Islands-based Design Researchers and Service Innovators.
Minister McNeill’s visit highlights the vital role rural communities play in shaping the future of digital health and care. The Rural Centre of Excellence is a powerful example of how smart investment and collaboration can fuel inclusive growth, drive digital innovation, and deliver sustainable, community-focused care — all aligned with the UK’s vision for a more predictive, preventative, and wellbeing-led model of care.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said:
"I was pleased to visit the Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health & Care Innovation in Elgin to see how £5 million of the UK Government's £32.5 million Moray Growth Deal funding is trailblazing life sciences and health advancements in the region, while boosting economic growth. The UK Government is working closely with partners across Scotland to invest around £1.7 billion in local projects as we deliver a decade of national renewal as part of our Plan for Change."
"DHI was proud to share the progress made in Moray, where universities, colleges, health and care partners — including the third sector — and businesses, including Archangel and Daysix, are working together to co-design future-ready products and services. It was a pleasure to discuss with Minister McNeill how this aligns with national strategies, including the refreshed industrial strategy, life sciences, and rural skills development strategies."
The Moray Growth Deal represents a combined investment of over £100 million, with the UK and Scottish Governments each investing up to £32.5 million over 10 years, and regional partners contributing up to £35.8 million over the same period. The Deal is expected to directly support up to 450 jobs.
