Deputy First Minister John Swinney is to lay out his blueprint of "a shared vision on innovation" to boost entrepreneurialism in Scotland at the first meeting of Scotland Can Do Innovation Forum at Edinburgh University Business School this week.
The event on Wednesday is the first stemming from the £3m Scotland Can Do "action framework", announced by the Scottish Government last month. It is intended to set the rules of engagement for the new body, members of which will be announced before the meeting.
The new grouping is intended to be the leading force in creating greater levels of demand for, and investment in, business innovation "for the benefit of the whole Scottish economy".
Following the publication of the framework, the forum will compromise representatives from the private, public and third sectors and academia, with the intention of creating a shared vision for innovation across Scotland, stimulating demand for innovation from business, driving up levels of business innovation investment and stimulating economically productive links between industry and academia.
Speaking ahead of the first meeting of the Forum, Swinney said:
"Scotland Can Do is a platform for all sectors to further sharpen our focus on creating sustainable economic growth. Our vision is to make a Scotland as a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation - a can do place for business."
"The Forum will play a crucial role in driving forward demand for, and investment in, business innovation ensuring that innovation can make a lasting and positive difference to the Scottish economy."
"This Government is focused on growing our economy and this new forum will help to ensure that Scotland's economy is one where growth is based on innovation, change and openness to new ways of doing things. The sheer diversity of innovation that already exists in Scotland is something to be commended. Scottish Edge already stands as an exemplar of this approach and shows what can happen when public, private and third sector partners work as one for the benefit of growth orientated entrepreneurs across our country."
Scottish Edge is a competitive programme endowed to the tune of £5 million by Sir Tom Hunter, Royal Bank of Scotland and the Scottish Government, and led by a board of experienced entrepreneurs is a funding competition aimed at identifying Scotland's top young, early stage and high growth potential entrepreneurs. Winners receive financial support up to £100,000 plus packages of professional and other support and advice.
The Can Do Forum will involve 16 individuals from private companies, and universities along with 5 representatives of public sector bodies. The diverse sectors represented include data processing, energy, financial services, food and transport.
Other Scottish Government support for entrepreneurs includes its backing for the Entrepreneurial Spark, the world's largest free business accelerator, supported by Lord Haughey, Ann Gloag and Sir Tom Hunter, which Swinney praised as "crucial partner" in the Scottish Government's efforts to enhance entrepreneurship. An impact report published earlier this month claimed that the Entrepreneurial Spark programme had supported 352 programmes, 1028 jobs, added £41m in turnover to Scottish-based businesses and attracted £18m in investment.
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