Innovating for a healthier Scotland
First published on 22 September 2025
To mark the start of National Innovation Week, Public Health Scotland (PHS) is proud to launch our new Innovation Framework – a roadmap to embed innovation at the heart of how we work, collaborate, and improve health outcomes for the Scottish population.
Scotland's health and social care system is facing significant and growing pressures, the scale and complexity of which demand collaboration across sectors and systems. By embracing innovation, we can tackle these challenges to improve health and reduce health inequalities in Scotland.
The Innovation Framework outlines a long-term approach to how we will accelerate our impact t. It features two main pillars: a focus on prevention as a key part of improving health outcomes and building innovation capability and mindset in our workforce.
Paul Johnston, PHS Chief Executive, said:
“Innovation is central to the work we do at PHS – it’s a driving force for whole-system reform. We invite partners across Scotland’s public, private and third sectors to collaborate with us in designing, testing, and scaling innovations that deliver meaningful impact and lasting change.
“A powerful example of innovation in action is the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland. Launched earlier this year, this ambitious partnership between PHS, University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE) and three of Scotland’s local authorities aims to strengthen and accelerate action to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities across the country.
“Our Innovation Framework aligns closely with Scottish Government’s Population Health Framework, sharing its vision of increasing life expectancy and reducing health inequalities. By embracing new approaches to prevention, equity and system transformation, we can address the root causes of Scotland’s poor population health.”
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) said:
“Scientific innovation is vital to improving public health and tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that affect communities across Scotland. The launch of Public Health Scotland’s Innovation Framework marks an important step in embedding evidence-led, forward-thinking approaches into our health system. By fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration and continuous learning, we can unlock new solutions that support healthier lives and a fairer society. I welcome this Framework and look forward to seeing its impact across research, policy and practice.”
Read the new Framework for public health innovation
Visit our website to find out more about innovative work currently taking place at PHS and watch a case study video, which focuses on improvements in medical imaging, the use of artificial intelligence and integrating arts and healthcare.
Find out more about the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland.