Discover how DHI Scotland connects health, social care, academia and industry to co-design digital innovations that improve services and lives across Scotland. We are the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre Our mission is to transform great ideas into digital health and social care solutions Join our Network Projects Research and innovation projects co-designed with partners to create practical digital health and social care solutions with lasting impact. What we do DHI drives research and innovation in digital health and social care, supporting sustainable services, future skills, and improved health outcomes across Scotland. Resources A leader in digital health and social care, delivering research, fostering collaboration, and producing a range of academic and digital outputs. Who we are The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was established in 2013 and is a key enabler and catalyst for change, occupying a unique and visible position at the heart of the innovation ecosystem for digital health and social care in Scotland. A world-leading collaboration between the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art , publicly funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the Scottish Government . We are a not-for-profit organisation. Our expertise and influence allow us to play a pivotal role in building a fairer , inclusive , accessible , and equitable health and social care system by harnessing the power of Scotland’s public, private, and third/ charity sectors. Learn more Industry DHI helps companies get their digital health & care innovations to market. We have 10 years’ experience working with stakeholders in the NHS, academia, the Scottish Government, third sector, funders and industry to support cross-sectoral collaboration and digital health and care innovation. We understand the complexity of health and social care customer needs and procurement systems. Collaborate with us Health & care providers DHI is a catalyst for change and a conduit for NHS reform. We harness Research & Innovation (R&I) to support the essential recovery and digitally enabled transformation of health and social care services. We work with the NHS, local authorities, independent health & care providers, housing associations, 3rd Sector and charities. Innovate with us Academia and education DHI works with Academia to gather insight , undertake research , co-design and develop collaborative innovations to implement change, generate real impact and attract increased investment and funding into R&I and institutional capabilities. We engage with schools, colleges, universities to raise awareness of careers in the digital health and social care sector. Shape the future Wider public sector DHI works with wider public sector services to deploy key digital assets to re-imagine care and support a strong pipeline of digital and data pathfinder initiatives. We operate as an anchor institution to showcase Scotland’s capability and appetite for digital health and care innovation by working with cross-sectoral partners to transform great ideas into real digital health and social care solutions. Explore opportunities Working with Citizens DHI uses design research-led approaches to engage with citizens and keep them at the heart of all we do. If you want to contribute to the co-design of Scotland’s latest digital health and social care solutions, join our citizen panel. Join our citizen panel Digital health and social care innovation In the complex landscape of health and care, numerous terms such as Telehealth , Telemedicine , and Telecare are frequently employed to describe the integration of technology in healthcare services. The DHI prefers a more inclusive and simplified approach to terminology. Our definition Design innovation Design innovation is central to the DHI’s initiatives. As a co-founding partner, The Glasgow School of Art has shaped our unique design-led and participatory approach, recognised for its effectiveness in delivering impactful services. Our methodology fosters meaningful engagement with citizens, healthcare professionals, and communities, aligning with the Scottish Approach to Service Design . We tailor each project to the specific context, ensuring solutions meet the needs of all involved. Find out more £41.2M additional funding secured 29.5K report downloads 50 projects managed 1000+ active network members Our broader impact Our decade-long commitment to transforming Scotland's digital health and social care landscape has seen DHI secure vital funding, facilitate key projects, and build a robust network from across the sector. We're driving meaningful change that shapes the future of health and social care innovation in Scotland and beyond. Globally connected Dedicated to transform health and social care through digital innovation, not just in Scotland but across the globe. Our collaborations extend our impact far beyond national boundaries, positioning us at the forefront of global health and social care solutions. Meet our partners

DHI collaborates with partners to co-design digital health and social care solutions to key Scottish health challenges. Our projects Filter by Business support Data Standardisation Detection and Treatment Knowledge Exchange Post Event Care Prevention Sort by 5G Feasibility Study A study exploring how 5G connectivity could support a community health network, identifying priority use cases, benefits and practical steps to make it work. Explore AICE Europe Develops AI-supported capsule tests to detect bowel cancer earlier and reduce the need for traditional colonoscopies, improving comfort and clinical capacity. Explore AIM4ALL Improves how information is captured for CAR T cancer treatment, helping teams coordinate care and support more consistent, high-quality outcomes for patients. Explore Atrial Fibrillation Tests continuous heart monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation earlier, helping people get timely treatment and lowering the chance of stroke and complications. Explore Backpack - Person-owned Data Store A secure digital store that lets people hold and share their health and care information safely, giving them clear control over who can access it and when. Explore Building Digital Health and Care Skills in Moray: Strengthening the Skills Pipeline A collaborative, evidence led project focused on strengthening the digital skills pipeline in health and social care across Moray. Explore COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Tool (CAT) Adapted an existing app to help assess COVID-19 symptoms and guide next steps safely at home, supporting safer decisions and reducing pressure on services. Explore COVID-19 Community Co-management (Co3) Improved COVID-19 contact tracing by enhancing Scotland’s notification service and creating an accessible online form to collect contacts quickly and securely. Explore Care 'In Place' (CIP) Care Home Assessment Tool (CHAT) Stages 1 & 2 Developed and tested a digital assessment tool for care homes to triage residents’ needs and access the right clinical support, avoiding hospital trips. Explore Covid-19 related projects A collection of projects developed in response to COVID-19, supporting assessment, community care, data sharing and service resilience across Scotland. Explore Diabetes Portfolio Brings partners together to plan and test digital innovation for diabetes in Scotland, from early research through to real-world trials with people and services. Explore DigiBete Scale up project Expands a trusted online platform for children and young people with diabetes, providing reliable information, learning resources and self-care support. Explore First Prev 1 Page 1 Next Last View Project 5G Feasibility Study A study exploring how 5G connectivity could support a community health network, identifying priority use cases, benefits and practical steps to make it work. View Project AICE Europe Develops AI-supported capsule tests to detect bowel cancer earlier and reduce the need for traditional colonoscopies, improving comfort and clinical capacity. View Project AIM4ALL Improves how information is captured for CAR T cancer treatment, helping teams coordinate care and support more consistent, high-quality outcomes for patients. View Project Atrial Fibrillation Tests continuous heart monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation earlier, helping people get timely treatment and lowering the chance of stroke and complications. View Project Backpack - Person-owned Data Store A secure digital store that lets people hold and share their health and care information safely, giving them clear control over who can access it and when. View Project Building Digital Health and Care Skills in Moray: Strengthening the Skills Pipeline A collaborative, evidence led project focused on strengthening the digital skills pipeline in health and social care across Moray. View Project COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Tool (CAT) Adapted an existing app to help assess COVID-19 symptoms and guide next steps safely at home, supporting safer decisions and reducing pressure on services. View Project COVID-19 Community Co-management (Co3) Improved COVID-19 contact tracing by enhancing Scotland’s notification service and creating an accessible online form to collect contacts quickly and securely. View Project Care 'In Place' (CIP) Care Home Assessment Tool (CHAT) Stages 1 & 2 Developed and tested a digital assessment tool for care homes to triage residents’ needs and access the right clinical support, avoiding hospital trips. View Project Covid-19 related projects A collection of projects developed in response to COVID-19, supporting assessment, community care, data sharing and service resilience across Scotland. View Project Diabetes Portfolio Brings partners together to plan and test digital innovation for diabetes in Scotland, from early research through to real-world trials with people and services. View Project DigiBete Scale up project Expands a trusted online platform for children and young people with diabetes, providing reliable information, learning resources and self-care support.

The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) comprises a team of multi-cultural and multi-lingual individuals, with extensive skills, experience, and a shared commitment to transform great ideas into real digital health and social care solutions. ​ Our core team is supported by a Senior Management Team (SMT), Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and Board of Directors. Our team The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) comprises a team of multi-cultural and multi-lingual individuals, with extensive skills, experience, and a shared commitment to transform great ideas into real digital health and social care solutions. Our core team is supported by a Senior Management Team (SMT), Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and Board of Directors. Include all by Sub teams DHI Board SLT SMT Team Dr Petra Wilson Board Chair Professor George Crooks OBE Chief Executive Officer Moira Mackenzie Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Director of Innovation Janette Hughes Director of Planning & Performance Chaloner Chute Chief Technology Officer Dr Abigail Lyons Senior Business Innovation Manager Alan Connor Portfolio Lead, Digital Addiction Support Alex Porteous Project Co-ordinator Angela Bruce Research Fellow Angus McCann Board Member (Non-Executive Director) Anna Sturzaker Innovation Design Associate Anna Whyte Project Support Officer DHI Board Meeting Minutes 19/02/2026 DHI board meeting minutes 20/11/2025 DHI board meeting minutes 21/08/2025 DHI board meeting minutes 15/05/2025 DHI board meeting minutes 12/02/2025 DHI board meeting minutes 21/11/2024 DHI board meeting minutes 22/08/2024 DHI board meeting minutes 23/05/2024 DHI board meeting minutes 29/02/2024 DHI board meeting minutes 23/11/2023 DHI board meeting minutes 24/08/2023 DHI board meeting minutes 25/05/2023 DHI board meeting minutes 16/02/2023 DHI board meeting minutes DHI Board Terms of Reference DHI Board Terms of Reference (2018) DHI Board Members Code of Practice (2018)

The SUMIT project is exploring how digital health technologies could better support people living with substance use and mental health challenges across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The programme aims to support 1,500 people by improving technology-enabled access to care, services and community support. We are inviting technology companies and innovators to help shape this work and explore opportunities to pilot digital health solutions. On behalf of its partners, DHI is seeking to identify 3 digital products or services which address key challenges for local services and service users. The total budget is £550,000 and the selected digital health solutions will be active with services until November 2028 and be available for deployment across sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Challenge People experiencing substance use and mental health challenges often face barriers in accessing consistent support, navigating services, and maintaining engagement with recovery and wellbeing plans. Digital technologies may help address some of these challenges by improving how people access information, connect with services and communities, and manage their own care. The SUMIT project is therefore exploring how digital health solutions could support individuals, families and services across participating regions. What We’re Looking For The project intends to identify and ultimately procure three digital health solutions that could be piloted through the SUMIT programme. Early insights from local services and service users suggest potential opportunities in areas such as: Self-management and wellbeing Tools that help people access reliable information and local services. Digital approaches that support self-managed care and wellbeing. Recovery and care planning Solutions that help individuals track progress against personal care and wellbeing plans. Tools that support engagement with multiple health and support services. Connection and support networks Platforms that help connect people with peer groups, families and communities. Tools that improve access to support services, particularly during times of crisis. These themes are indicative and will be further refined through engagement with industry and stakeholders. The Opportunity The SUMIT partners are seeking input from technology companies to help test assumptions, to explore potential solutions that currently meet, or can be adapted to meet our challenges, and inform the development of a formal procurement process. There is significant scope for industry organisations to bring insights and creativity to this process and work collaboratively to address SUMIT key challenges over a 2-year timeline. There is also great potential for transferable digital health products used in other contexts to be introduced effectively into SUMIT. Industry engagement will help shape the requirements for a tender that is expected to be published in late Spring 2026. There may be opportunities for: Existing digital health products to be adapted or applied in this context New partnerships with health and community organisations Pilot deployment of digital solutions through the SUMIT programme Industry Briefing – (complete) Technology companies were invited to attend a 90-minute online Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday 31 March The session shared: Introduce the SUMIT project Share early insights from services and service users Outline potential innovation opportunities Provide an opportunity for questions and discussion Feedback gathered will now inform the development of the upcoming procurement process. Don't worry if you missed the briefing you can access the slides used below ABOUT SUMIT The SUMIT project is a ground-breaking initiative funded by the PEACEPLUS programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Led by Queen’s University Belfast, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the University of St Andrews, and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). SUMIT seeks to positively impact people’s lives by improving technology enabled access to care and support for people with substance use and mental health challenges

Co-Designing a Shared Agenda for Innovation DHI is undertaking a new landscape review exploring how digital health and care can support Scotland’s net zero and sustainability ambitions. The project will map current activity, identify gaps and opportunities, and consider how digital innovation could contribute to lower-carbon, more resilient and equitable models of health and care. Achieving this requires collaboration across the whole system. Relevant knowledge and activity are distributed across health and social care, government, academia, housing, industry and the third sector, and no single organisation holds the complete picture. We are therefore holding a co-design workshop in Glasgow on Monday 14 September 2026, from 10am-3pm. Participants will work together to review and strengthen the emerging landscape, share activity and perspectives that may have been overlooked, identify connections and gaps, and shape a shared agenda for future research, innovation and action. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to build relationships and explore where new collaborations could turn shared priorities into practical activity. If this connects with your work, we would love you to join us. Register here: https://www.dhi-scotland.com/event-details/connecting-digital-health-care-and-net-zero-co-designing-a-shared-agenda-for-innovation Travel support may be available to help ensure representation from across Scotland.

When I joined the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in 2015, digital health and care was still an emerging field. While enthusiasm for technology’s potential was abundant, there was much less certainty about how innovation would scale, how services would adapt, or what the future workforce might need. More than a decade later, digital transformation has become firmly embedded in health and social care. We have seen remarkable advances in technologies, data, services and infrastructure. Yet one lesson that has stayed with me throughout my time at DHI is this: digital transformation is not fundamentally a challenge about technology, but people. The success of digital innovation depends on skills, confidence, culture, relationships and a willingness to work differently. Technology matters, of course, but it is ultimately down to people whether innovation succeeds, stalls or scales. Looking back over the past eleven years, much of the work I am proudest of has focused on what might be called the softer side of innovation: the people and their capabilities that support digital transformation and innovation adoption. One of the most encouraging developments has been seeing digital health and care mature into a recognised field of study in Scotland. When I took responsibility for DHI's scholarship programme in 2016, there were no dedicated digital health and care master's programmes in Scottish universities. This created a rare opportunity to help shape an emerging field, facilitating the development of new programmes while fostering a more interdisciplinary approach to digital transformation through the scholarship funding. What has been most rewarding is seeing students from disciplines as diverse as nursing, psychology, design, policy, computer science, sport studies, engineering and AI come together. The varied perspectives have consistently demonstrated that meaningful innovation rarely comes from a single discipline; it happens when different forms of expertise meet and combine in unexpected ways. Many graduates have moved into leadership, research, practice and innovation roles across Scotland’s health and care ecosystem, leaving an impact that will continue long after individual programme have ended. A second theme has been the growing recognition that digital transformation is everyone's business. Early in my time at DHI, workforce research highlighted a disconnect: many health and social care professionals were still being educated for a largely non-digital workplace, while technology students often had little exposure to care settings. If we want technology to work in practice, these worlds needed to come closer together. Progress has not happened overnight, but the conversation has shifted significantly. Digital capabilities are increasingly embedded within educational programmes, professional development activities and workforce planning discussions. The recent inclusion of digital capabilities within National Occupational Standards for health and social care feels particularly significant, helping to position digital skills not as optional extras but as core components of modern professional practice. Another change I have observed is the growing sophistication of the conversation around skills. In the early years, conversations about digital skills could be frustratingly imprecise. Different groups often used the same language to describe very different needs, or different language to describe essentially the same thing. Through research on digital skills and capabilities requirements, workforce and recruitment needs, skills frameworks, and emerging trends in digital health and care, DHI has helped develop a more nuanced understanding of the capabilities required to support digital transformation. We have come to recognise that the skills needed by frontline practitioners are different from those required by digital and data specialists and technology developers. While this may seem a subtle distinction, it has played an important role in shaping more informed and productive conversations about education, workforce development and policy. Much of this work has taken place behind the scenes and attracted fewer headlines than new technologies or service innovations. Yet, this may have a longer-lasting impact because it has helped establish shared understanding and language around what digital transformation requires. One aspect of my time at DHI that I will miss most is the opportunity to collaborate across sectors, professions and disciplines. Some of my favourite projects brought together individuals who would not normally find themselves in the same room. Initiatives such as FUTUREquipped connected educators and students from health and social care, digital technologies and construction to explore future challenges through the lens of smart housing. The ideas generated were important, but so were the relationships that emerged. Many of those connections continued long after the projects themselves had ended. The same spirit of collaboration underpinned work supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. Whether through the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, social care innovation or more recent projects such as Digital Shoots, I have been fortunate to work alongside people who are passionate about improving services, solving problems and creating opportunities for others. Reflecting on the past eleven years, I realise that curiosity has been one of the greatest gifts of the role. It has given me the opportunity to explore emerging technologies, tackle workforce challenges, contribute to policy and education, and collaborate with people across government, academia, industry, health and social care. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that innovation rarely happens in isolation, but flourishes through partnerships, networks and shared ambition, where bringing the right people together can be just as important as finding the right answers. I have also learned that progress is seldom linear: some ideas take root quickly, while others take years to find their moment, often leading to opportunities never originally imagined. As I move on to a new role at Edinburgh College, I feel both reflective and optimistic. Reflective because DHI has been such an important part of my professional life, and optimistic because many ideas that once seemed ambitious are now part of mainstream thinking, with a new generation of students, practitioners and innovators shaping what comes next. Most of all, I leave with gratitude. To the many colleagues, partners, students, researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators whose expertise, generosity and enthusiasm have shaped and inspired my thinking and taught me far more than any project or publication ever could: thank you. While this chapter is closing, the relationships, conversations and shared commitment to improving health and social care through innovation will continue. So rather than goodbye, perhaps it is simply: thank you, and see you around the block. Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen