2025 Annual Report

Annual Report 2025

Corporate sponsor:

About Technology Scotland

Technology Scotland is the representative body for the critical and enabling technologies sector in Scotland.

How we support our members:

Interfacing

Representing

Promoting

Influencing

Supporting

Our networks

Our initiatives

Welcome to our new members!

Technology Scotland highlights

Holyrood Reception

Publication of MaaS Roadmap

Special Interest Groups

Representing Scottish Capabilities

MaaS Scotland Annual Conference

Mapping Scotland's Critical Technologies

Creation of Supercluster Advisory Board

Inagural Technology Scotland Awards

Alison McLeod Recognised in Photonics100

Westminster Showcase

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Holyrood Reception

• In March, Technology Scotland hosted over 250 guests at a Holyrood reception to mark the formal launch of the Critical Technologies Supercluster initiative.

• The event provided a platform to update policy makers on our ambition to grow the supercluster beyond £10bn in revenues by 2035.

• Guests were also given the opportunity to interact with demonstrations that showcased the importance of these technologies in our day-to-day lives, now, and in the future.

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Publication of MaaS Roadmap

• In February, Technology Scotland published a new report ‘Implementing Mobility as a Service: A Roadmap for Scotland’.

• Delivered through the MaaS Scotland Network, the report details 16 recommendations that will accelerate the delivery of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) in Scotland.

• Three of these recommendations are to be immediately taken forward by Transport Scotland, including specifications for a National MaaS platform, a Scottish MaaS code of practice, and a National MaaS Evaluation Platform.

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Special Interest Groups

• Special interest groups continue to provide important forums for discussion and knowledge exchange across all Technology Scotland networks.

• 12 meetings were delivered across the year with a combined total of over 300 attendees.

• Themes covered included Quantum Technologies and Space (Photonics Scotland) and Data & Governance, Behaviour Change and Evaluation (MaaS Scotland).

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Representing Scottish Capability

• Technology Scotland represented Scottish capabilities at multiple events throughout the year.

• These included Photonics West, LASER World of Photonics and the National Quantum Showcase.

• In addition to promoting Scottish capability, these events allowed Technology Scotland to engage with counterparts from across the globe, sharing sectoral intelligence and best practice.

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MaaS Scotland Annual Conference

• The UK’s largest dedicated MaaS event returned in June, with a fantastic line up of guest speakers.

• This year’s conference was framed around the recently published MaaS Roadmap and focussed on areas such as leadership, productisation of MaaS, data, and social value.

• The Annual Conference will return on the 11th of June 2026 in Glasgow.

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Westminster Showcase

• In October, Technology Scotland teamed up with colleagues at the University of Glasgow to deliver a Westminster showcase highlighting Scotland’s critical technologies capabilities.

• Joined by politicians from across the political spectrum, the event highlighted the role of critical technologies in meeting the ambitions of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.

• It also emphasised the opportunity represented by the supercluster, clearly stating the need for UK Government recognition and support.

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Mapping Scotland’s Critical Technologies

• Technology Scotland has initiated a programme of activity to develop a comprehensive capability map that charts Scotland’s critical technologies supercluster.

• By consolidating fragmented information into an accessible and interactive mapping tool, Technology Scotland aims to support strategic investment, foster collaboration, and guide future growth in critical technology domains.

• Input has been sought from cluster stakeholders, including via a workshop held in December. An initial phase of the map will go live in March 2026.

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Creation of Supercluster Advisory Board

• May saw the first meeting of the newly convened Critical Technologies Supercluster Advisory Board.

• Comprised of leaders from across industry, academia and government, the Board will direct supercluster activity towards its headline ambition to grow beyond £10bn in revenues by 2035.

• The Board met three times throughout 2025, identifying a number of priority actions that are now in progress.

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Alison McLeod Recognised in Photonics100

• Our very own Alison McLeod was selected in the Electro Optics Photonics100.

• The Photonics100 recognises global excellence in photonics, highlighting individuals who have driven innovation over the past year and helped their organisations stay at the forefront of the field.

• We were delighted that Alison received this global recognition, reflecting her passion for Scottish photonics and ongoing support for the sector.

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Inaugural Technology Scotland Annual Awards

• Technology Scotland celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2025.

• To mark this milestone, Technology Scotland introduced its inaugural awards at November’s Annual Dinner.

• These awards showcased excellence within our sector, recognising our young talent alongside achievements in innovation, collaboration, and internationalisation.

• Congratulations again to all of our winners!

Technology Scotland Annual Dinner and Awards 2025

Future outlook

Scaling innovation

Developing a workforce for the future

Internationalisation

Collaboration and cluster building

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Scaling innovation

Following on from the Critical Technologies Supercluster Action Plan, develop a strategic report that will outline specific deliverables designed to support the sector to meet its growth ambitions by 2035.

Provide front door for investors and support smaller organisations and entrepreneurs to access investment opportunities, including creation of an investor database.

Continue to engage with industry (via surveys, workshops, roundtables) to monitor and analyse identified barriers to growth.

Develop a mentorship database to recycle entrepreneurial expertise back into our start-up and spin-out base.

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Developing a workforce for the future

In partnership with NMIS Manufacturing Skills Academy, address the photonics skills challenge through further development of an accelerated skills programme for new entrants to the sector.

Continue to assess current and future sectoral skills needs through our Critical Technologies Future Skills Group and annual survey.

Coordinate with partners, via the Engineering Skills Leadership Group, to build a national case for increased investment and support for science and engineering education.

We will leverage the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund Programme to emphasise Scotland’s position as a global lead in the development of Mobility as a Service.

Work with partners to create a critical technologies cohort as part of the Manufacturing Skills Academy Internship Programme in 2026.

We will leverage the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund Programme to emphasise Scotland’s position as a global lead in the development of Mobility as a Service.

Continue with activities under the Opening up Photonics banner to include greater focus on building a diverse talent pool to support the wider critical technologies sector.

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Internationalisation

Publish an interactive, user-friendly capability map to act as a front door for the world to engage with Scotland’s critical technologies, and the engine room for cluster to grow, collaborate and innovate.

Coordinate enhanced Scottish representation at key international events, working with DBT, FCDO, and SDI where appropriate to develop parallel activities including receptions, briefings and matchmaking events.

In partnership with SE and SDI, create briefing documents and associated training for in-market trade specialists, Global Scots and Trade Envoys to support efforts relating to critical technologies.

Launch International Employee Ambassador Scheme to leverage current global talent to promote Scotland as a world leading location for career development.

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Collaboration and cluster building

Create interactive capability map for Scotland’s critical technologies landscape, including strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for consolidation.

Facilitate networking and knowledge exchange through social events, thematic workshops, special interest groups, roundtables and surveys.

Form a Scottish Industry–Academia Advisory Board to align research agendas with industry need.

Introduce two new special interest groups focussing on Biophotonics, and Manufacturing and Fabrication.

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Thanks to our sponsors!

Corporate sponsor:

MaaS Scotland Conference sponsors:

Technology Scotland Annual Dinner sponsors:

Thanks to all of our members for another great year!

Join our community

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MaaS Scotland is at the heart of Scotland's Mobility as a Service (MaaS) revolution, bringing together private and public sector organisations to realise the potential of MaaS in meeting our wider net-zero ambitions. The group has been fundamental in accelerating the development of MaaS in Scotland, most notably through successfully lobbying for the creation of the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund which supported 5 pilot projects across Scotland. More recently, the group published its own roadmap, detailing 16 recommendations that will accelerate the delivery of MaaS in Scotland, covering themes including leadership, governance, investment, user engagement, evaluation and data. Our members have access to regular events, working groups, and networking opportunities that connect them with industry leaders, give access to cutting-edge insights, and contribute to the strength of the Mobility as a Service community in Scotland.

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Scotland is home to a world leading cluster in the development and application of quantum technologies – welcome to Glentanglement®! Glentanglement® represents Scotland’s collective strength in quantum technologies, leveraging our rich heritage in photonics and our capabilities in adjacent critical technologies including semiconductors, connectivity and sensing.

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Scotland’s product design sector, renowned for its innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, is playing a vital role in the development and commercialisation of some of our most innovative technologies. Integration of these technologies into viable, efficient and commercially attractive products is key, and the partnership between technology and product design is becoming ever more important. Product Design Scotland aims to be the focal point for the design community, raising awareness of the critical importance of design to future growth and competitiveness and creating a thriving, collaborative network to drive innovation.

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Opening up Photonics is a platform supporting the Scottish photonics industry to discuss, challenge and address as a community, barriers faced by minority groups, with the aim of increasing accessibility, championing diversity, and ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for all.

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Scotlands Critical Technologies Supercluster is a partnership between Technology Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde. The supercluster has been created to formally bring together Scotland’s internationally recognised strengths in photonics, quantum, semiconductors, connectivity and sensing. This aggregation of expertise, unparalleled anywhere else in the UK, will play a key role in developing our industries of the future and will be a significant contributor to our future economic growth. The supercluster initiative has an ambition to exploit Scotland’s existing strengths and synergies across critical technologies to achieve £10 billion turnover by 2035, creating 6,600 additional high-value jobs.

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Photonics Scotland is a community for all photonics and photonics-enabled organisations in Scotland. We are the focal point for the sector and a trusted partner to our members, allowing us to represent their views to a number of key stakeholders. We strengthen the sector through regular events, working groups, and networking opportunities that encourage collaboration between industry and academia. At the heart of our mission is a straightforward set of goals: to raise the sector’s profile, support the growth of this vibrant cluster, and drive forward photonics innovation in Scotland.

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