Heriot-Watt University and Technology Scotland have partnered to accelerate access to technology design capabilities for Scotland’s SME’s, according to a press release announcing the news. The organizations have agreed upon a five-year deal to be housed at the university’s Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC), which will allow MDMC-supported SMEs to engage with Technology Scotland, specifically its Product Design Scotland Network, to advance design requirements with a focus on medical device sustainability. The knowledge obtained through the partnership will then be disseminated across Heriot-Watt’s global campuses including Dubai and Malaysia, along with partnering academic institutions.

The MDMC, which is based at the university’s Edinburgh campus, is a consortium including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and Robert Gordon University. It helps Scotland’s SMEs to translate medical device concepts into commercial products through free expert advice on, and access to, manufacturing engineering, regulatory issues, and funding, as well as access to its £2 million specialist manufacturing facilities.

“Access to specialist design capability is one of the biggest challenges that SMEs working in this sector currently face,” said Professor Duncan Hand, director of the MDMC at Heriot-Watt University. “We are a nation of innovators, but it is essential that expert support is more easily and consistently accessible to SMEs to translate their game changing innovations into devices that can be more quickly adopted for the benefit of patient care. Our new strategic partnership will further accelerate Scotland's offering in this area, ensuring our nation retains a world-leading position in the field of medical device creation.”

Technology Scotland is the representative body for the Enabling Technology Sector in Scotland. The representative body supports a community of over 125 industrial and academic member organizations developing technologies to deliver product advancements in multiple markets, including healthcare, communications, manufacturing, and mobility. It does this through its three networks — Photonics Scotland, Product Design Scotland, and MaaS Scotland.

“Technologies developed within Scotland’s enabling technologies sector have long supported our vibrant life sciences industry,” said Alastair McInroy, CEO of Technology Scotland. “Realizing the potential of these technologies, and successfully navigating the journey from concept to commercialization, requires careful integration of design processes and frameworks. Through our Product Design Scotland network, Technology Scotland is delighted to be partnering with MDMC to provide life science SMEs with improved access to Scotland’s excellent design capabilities.”