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A community driving digital innovation across social care, social work and housing. The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions to drive digital innovation across social care, social work and housing communities. Home / Innovation clusters / Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) A community driving digital innovation across social care, social work and housing The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions to drive digital innovation across social care, social work and housing communities. The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) brings together partners from social care, social work, housing, research, policy and industry to enable sustainable digital innovation. Through a collective partnership with national organisations, the DCCS drives digital innovation across Scotland’s communities through shared priorities, practical learning, and coordinated action. DCCS aligns digital care strategies and connects existing activity, helping partners to meaningfully implement digital technology to benefit communities across the landscape of care. It complements similar approaches in health, such as the ANIA (Accelerated National Innovation Adoption) pathway and regional Innovation Hubs. Hosted by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and delivered in collaboration with national partners, DCCS provides strategic coordination, alignment, and knowledge exchange to support digital care innovation. The DCCS will focus on five priority areas that have been developed through engagement with national bodies, industry partners and care providers across Scotland, to create the conditions for a flourishing pathway for digital care innovation: Creating the Conditions for Digital Care Innovation: Developing a strategic framework/pathway that sets priorities, promotes service parity, and positions the DCCS as a trusted source of advice and alignment for digital care innovation. Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange: Establishing a space where care, tech, and policy can connect, learn, share, and collaborate across Scotland, UK and internationally. Learning and Evidence Building: Showcasing best practice, consolidating evidence and leveraging funding opportunities for digital care innovation. Developing Resources and Practical Tools: Providing access to simple, actionable tools and examples to apply innovation locally. Workforce Capability and Learner Pathways in Digital Innovation: Supporting partners such as NHS Education Scotland (NES) and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to strengthen digital innovation leadership and workforce confidence. We are currently finalising the delivery plan for 2026. More information will be available soon on how to get involved in the Digital Care Collaborative Scotland. Overview Resources To support knowledge exchange we share all relevant DCCS related assets and information with our network. DCCS Resources (Reports) Digital Innovation in Social Care - Industry Engagement Workshop: Report, September 2025 Digital Innovation in Social Care: Priorities and Opportunities for Scotland DCCS Resources (Links) Future Health and Wellbeing - Digital Innovation in Social Care: Priorities and Opportunities for Scotland Contacts Professor Margaret Whoriskey : DCCS Strategic Lead

The #DigiInventors Challenge is organised by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) as it's flagship schools’ competition in collaboration with leading partners in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare across Scotland. Primary School National Challenge The #DigiInventors Challenge is organised by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) as it's flagship schools’ competition in collaboration with leading partners in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare across Scotland. The next challenge launches January 2026 . Challenge questions and teaching materials are currently being developed. Big ideas start early! Our Primary Challenge is specially designed for young innovators in P5 - P7 across Scotland. It’s all about teamwork, creativity and discovering how digital ideas can help people live healthier, happier lives. Introduction The Primary Challenge invites P5-P7 pupils in Scotland to explore one big question: Can you identify a real problem related to people’s health or wellbeing, and develop a digital idea to help solve it? What's The Challenge About? This challenge provides a fun way to learn about digital opportunities, entrepreneurship, design innovation, science, tech, teamwork and creative problem-solving in the classroom and helps develop critical STEM skills for the future. Pupils will: Talk about daily health and wellbeing challenges people face (e.g. healthy eating, staying active, managing stress) Research how digital tools like apps, games and smart devices could make life better Work together to plan a simple idea or solution Create a sketch or visual to show how it works Share their idea in a short written or video pitch Who Can Take Part? Open to all Primary Schools in Scotland Pupils in P5-P7 Teams of up to 4 pupils (mixed stages/genders encouraged!) Each team must have a teacher or adult mentor to guide them When It Takes Place? 05/01/2026 - Challenge Launch 27/02/2026 - Application Submission Deadline 02/03/2026 - 20/03/2026 - Judging Period 23/03/2026 - Winners & Runners-up Announced 28/04/2026 - Award Ceremony How To Take Part Step 1: Form your team, up to 4 pupils Step 2: Explore the big question and brainstorm ideas Step 3: Research, plan and sketch your solution Step 4: Use the resources pack to prepare your pitch Step 5: Submit your entry before the deadline! Unlock Your #DigiInventors Toolkit Find everything you need to take part in the Challenge. Use the filters to explore Primary or Secondary materials and choose between Essential resources to get started and Additional content to go further. Includes editable templates, teacher slides, helpful guides, and more! Resources page Prizes All participants will receive a #DigiInventors Challenge Certificate and can use their submission to apply for the YSL Level 2 Auto Award. Runners-up get: Certificate for each pupil Fun goodie bags for all team members Winners get: The #DigiInventors Challenge Trophy for their school Certificate for each team member Fun goodie bags for all team members A fantastic tech prize for each team member Meet Last Year’s Winners Multi-ColourZ (Newton Farm Primary, South Lanarkshire) A groundbreaking app to support young people with colour blindness, featuring colour overlays, AI voice support, customisable settings, and a full colour reference and advice hub. JH Grow and Glow (Wellington School, South Ayrshire) An engaging wellbeing app for children aged 5–12, supporting healthy habits in sleep, nutrition, hydration, and exercise – all guided by a friendly avatar called Glow. Sweet Tooth (Carolside Primary, East Renfrewshire) An innovative dental care app for young people with braces, using Bluetooth chips to allow orthodontists to monitor oral hygiene remotely. Testimonials As a teacher, it’s been incredibly rewarding to guide our team of four students through the #DigiInventors Challenge. The boys worked diligently on every aspect of the project, from market research to user experience, and even explored manufacturing processes and production costs. The hands-on experience they gained was invaluable and seeing them present their ideas to both local and international teams, a critical step towards ultimately winning the competition, was truly inspiring. I would highly encourage other schools to get involved in #DigiInventors - it’s an excellent program that helps students develop critical skills in design, technology, and teamwork, while also fostering a real-world understanding of how innovation can positively impact society. Josh Farquhar - Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, Scotland Partnering with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre has been a fantastic experience for Scottish Hockey. It has allowed us to connect with partners and change-makers beyond our usual scope. We highly recommend getting involved with the #DigiInventors Challenge. Keith Macleod, Scottish Hockey The #DigiInventors competition has been an incredible experience for our school, as we have participated for many years now. It’s been amazing to see how the challenge refines each year, consistently raising the bar in innovation and engagement. Our students benefit greatly from interacting with insightful professors and leaders from the UAE and Scotland, receiving invaluable feedback on their ideas and pitching techniques. They also have the unique opportunity of interacting with students who reside in Scotland! Mrs Zaineb Mahdi, Assistant Headteacher & Cluster Director Innovation and Digital Technology, GEMS Wellington International School Dubai

The #DigiInventors Challenge empowers young people to develop digital, design, entrepreneurial, and STEM skills while exploring careers in health and social care. By equipping them to tackle real-world challenges, the competition fosters creativity, technology, and problem-solving. Bringing together diverse sectors, it inspires the next generation of innovators to design impactful solutions for the future of healthcare. Invent Today. Impact Tomorrow. Don’t Just Take Our Word for It... Hear from the pupils, teachers and partners who’ve experienced the #DigiInventors Challenge first-hand. From classroom creativity to real-world impact, these stories show what the Challenge is all about in their own words. As a teacher, it’s been incredibly rewarding to guide our team of four students through the #DigiInventors Challenge. The boys worked diligently on every aspect of the project, from market research to user experience, and even explored manufacturing processes and production costs. The hands-on experience they gained was invaluable and seeing them present their ideas to both local and international teams, a critical step towards ultimately winning the competition, was truly inspiring. I would highly encourage other schools to get involved in #DigiInventors - it’s an excellent program that helps students develop critical skills in design, technology, and teamwork, while also fostering a real-world understanding of how innovation can positively impact society. Josh Farquhar - Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, Scotland Partnering with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre has been a fantastic experience for Scottish Hockey. It has allowed us to connect with partners and change-makers beyond our usual scope. We highly recommend getting involved with the #DigiInventors Challenge. Keith Macleod, Scottish Hockey It was an honour and a privilege to be asked for the 2nd year running to support the #DigiInventors Challenge, an innovative program designed to inspire and empower young people to develop #entrepreneurial and #digitalskills while raising awareness of career opportunities in the #digitalhealth and care sector. By participating in the #DigiInventors Challenge, young people have the opportunity to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit, explore digital innovation, and potentially create solutions that could transform digital health and care provision for their peers. James Steel Global Scot I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for the incredible design of the challenge for our children. The awards ceremony was also excellent and left a lasting impression on everyone who attended. Your communication throughout the entire process was very good, ensuring that all participants were well-informed and all of the information was received and checked before the deadlines. The competition made a significant impact on my class, and we are grateful for the dedication and creativity the team of organisers brought to this event. Joanne Dunse, Class Teacher Kirkhill Primary School The Young STEM Leader Programme is an inspiring award that uses STEM as a platform to develop leadership, communication and employability skills in young people. We're pleased to partner with #DigiInventors Challenge which embodies these attributes. All young people involved will automatically qualify for a Young STEM Leader Award to further recognise the innovative approaches they’ve taken to complete the Challenge. Dr Sharon Macnab Young STEM Leader Programme Manager Initiatives like the #DigiInventors Challenge are crucial. This year, our second-year students participated in an inspiring bootcamp where they pitched innovative ideas to industry leaders, explored VR technology for a real-world job simulation and developed critical thinking and collaboration skills through feedback sessions. These experiences pushed them beyond their comfort zones, fostering lifelong skills in business, creativity, and resilience. Jack Walker, Computing Science Teacher St Georges School The #DigiInventors competition has been an incredible experience for our school, as we have participated for many years now. It’s been amazing to see how the challenge refines each year, consistently raising the bar in innovation and engagement. Our students benefit greatly from interacting with insightful professors and leaders from the UAE and Scotland, receiving invaluable feedback on their ideas and pitching techniques. They also have the unique opportunity of interacting with students who reside in Scotland! Mrs Zaineb Mahdi, Assistant Headteacher & Cluster Director Innovation and Digital Technology, GEMS Wellington International School Dubai The #DigiInventors Challenge has been part of our S2 curriculum for six years, providing students a fun and engaging way to develop invaluable transferrable skills. It sets student learning in real-world context, inspiring them to make a difference to physical and mental health challenges facing young people today – all while developing confidence, creativity, problem solving, teamwork and digital skills. Working with industry experts gives the opportunity to turn their creative ideas into potentially life-changing innovations. Sarah Wyllie, Teacher Marr College In the press We were proud to celebrate the winners of the #DigiInventors Challenge Young entrepreneurs win health innovation challenge #DigiInventors Challenge, Education and Charity Ambassador Scots tot with cerebral palsy inspires 11-year-old sister to invent award-winning device to help children like her walk Dubai: School students invent tech to read brain activity in schizophrenics The Challenge that started in Scotland now embraced in Dubai Tennis ace Andy Murray backs challenge for Scottish secondary schools Interviews Blogs Gripping Innovation: #DigiInventors Winners Take Centre Stage Young Innovators Celebrated at #DigiInventors Challenge 2025 Award Ceremony

NHS inform is Scotland's online health information service that offers quality assured health and care information including symptom checkers, Scotland’s Service Directory and mental health advice and resources.    The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is supporting NHS 24 in the redevelopment of NHS inform and is awarding a grant of up to £35K (inclusive of any VAT) for an academic team to undertake an evaluation of prototypes/wireframes developed as part of the service redesign of the NHS inform website. The approach is anticipated to include   UX evaluation protocol and testing sessions, accessibility compliance reportiing and inclusive design recommendations. It is likely that the academic team will offer, either directly, or through engagement with third parties, a combination of of the following experience and expertise: ·       User research; ·       Wireframing/prototyping; ·       Information architecture; ·       Visual design; ·       Communication; ·       Critical thinking/problem solving.   We welcome responses outlining approach, methodology, and costs (max. 10 pages), with CVs included as appendices. More information on this call and how to apply can be found here.   Complete applications should be submitted to  research@dhi-scotland.com  by 5pm on 15 th January 2026.  Any queries should be directed in the first instance to Jennifer Thomas:  jennifer.thomas@dhi-scotland.com .

The first SUMIT ( S ubstance U se and M ental Health I nterventions using Digital T echnology) Community of Practice took place on Tuesday 18 th  November in Queen’s Communities and Place.   This marked an exciting step toward strengthening collaboration and learning across the SUMIT programme. Led by Queen’s Communities and Place, the Community of Practice (CoP) is designed to bring SUMIT partners together around a common purpose, with this first session focused on building a strong foundation and setting shared direction for our ongoing work. The meeting offered space for reflection, dialogue, and practical planning.   The meeting began by establishing the shared purpose, principles, and foundation for trust that will guide our SUMIT CoP. Participants discussed the importance of collective learning and mutual support, highlighting that collaboration would be central to realising SUMIT’s ambitions for all.   A key highlight was the opportunity to reflect on local learning from our Community and Voluntary sector partners. Organisations reflected information on their services and service user landscape; alongside recognition of current challenges and recent successes within their organisation and geographical area.   These experiences brought to life the diversity of local contexts and demonstrated the value of peer exchange. Participants noted some similar issues which resonated across regions, as well as learning from place-based successes, reinforcing the importance of collaborative learning.   Building on these reflections, the session turned to learning from best practice examples. Expert contributions from the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) provided inspiration and practical insight. Alan Connor (DHI's portfolio lead of Digital Addiction Support) shared approaches to embedding digital inclusion within existing service provision, with a focus on the impact of digital solutions in Scotland. Aaron Slater (Digital Inclusion Manager, SCVO) explored digital inclusion in more detail, with consideration at individual, organisational and sectoral levels. These sessions sparked rich discussion on how such models could be relevant, adaptable and scalable within the SUMIT context.   The meeting closed with a forward-looking discussion on next steps, including who else should be part of the conversation and how the CoP will continue to evolve. Members agreed on the importance of broadening participation, fostering ongoing knowledge exchange, and initiating collaborative activities that translate shared learning into tangible outcomes.   As one participant noted, “The power of this community lies in learning from each other. Our challenges, our creativity, and our collective drive to make digital inclusion real.”   The first SUMIT CoP meeting set the tone for an open, inclusive, and action-oriented network; one that will continue to facilitate, share, and promote best practice across the partnership.   SUMIT is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

Strengthening Scotland’s Digital Mental Health Innovation Ecosystem The SAFXR project, funded through Innovate UK’s Mindset-XR Round 3 competition, launched on 1 July 2025, uniting Care Reality, NHS Education for Scotland (NES), the University of Glasgow, and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) to co-develop an immersive, machine-learning-enabled suicide-prevention training resource as part of Care Reality’s existing XR FLO platform. The project’s goal is ambitious yet clear: to enhance practitioner capability and learner self-reflection through realistic XR simulation and evidence-informed design. Strengthening DHI’s Role in Scotland’s Digital Health Landscape For DHI, the SAFXR project is a tangible demonstration of how innovation partnerships can advance national priorities for digital mental health. DHI has contributed with partners to shaping early project governance, facilitating cross-partner collaboration, and embedding the learning methodologies and technical design processes that now underpin SAFXR development. These structures have been essential in establishing a coherent operational rhythm across four organisations with individually distinct cultures and working practices. The project also highlights DHI’s role in convening triple-helix expertise around complex mental-health challenges, translating research, service needs, and technology capabilities into a pathway for real-world impact. A Boost for the Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster SAFXR directly bolsters the Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster, which DHI facilitates on behalf of Scottish Government, as part of its mission to accelerate innovation across Scotland’s mental-health ecosystem. The project contributes to DMHIC in three key ways: Building shared capability across academia, NHS partners, and industry. SAFXR’s collaborative model, linking University of Glasgow, NES, DHI, and Care Reality, demonstrates the multidimensional partnership approach that the cluster aims to foster. Providing a flagship example of XR applied to real clinical and front-line training needs. As the platform matures, it will serve as a visible, evidence-based exemplar of how immersive technology can help address frontline mental-health challenges such as suicide safety planning and practitioner skills development. Enriching Scotland’s pipeline of validated digital mental-health solutions. Through structured co-design, rigorous educational modelling, and early adoption of technical enablers, SAFXR is creating a robust foundation for scale and future translational projects within the cluster. These contributions advance the cluster’s strategic goals while expanding Scotland’s capacity to innovate responsibly and collaboratively in the area of digital mental health. Project Highlights from Phase 1 (July–September 2025) Co-design work was progressed through the creation of Figma storyboards, draft narrative flows, early mock-ups, and a refined learning-journey model transitioning from six modules to a progressive three-phase pathway. On the technical side, the early completion of the Content Prescription System within the FLO platform, using AWS DynamoDB and a new React-based admin dashboard, provides a strong foundation for upcoming XR content integration. Looking Ahead Over the next quarter, the consortium will focus on: Completing storyboard QA and validation Advancing asset procurement and Unity prototype development Delivering the baseline machine-learning model and APIs Initiating focus groups and early engagement sessions These activities will not only drive SAFXR forward but will further strengthen DHI’s role in shaping next-generation digital mental-health solutions for Scotland, fostering a thriving and impactful innovation cluster. In Summary SAFXR Phase 1 closes with strong partner alignment, a clear educational and technical blueprint, and a shared commitment to delivering an immersive training platform capable of transforming suicide-prevention training and skills development. SAFXR is already demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation, and its progress significantly amplifies the impact and visibility of Scotland’s Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster.