Ideas to impact public sector support for research commercialisation: strengths, ambition and progress report

Ministerial Foreword

Kate Forbes
Deputy First Minister

Scotland has always been a nation of ideas. From the breakthroughs of the Enlightenment to the innovations that shaped the modern world, higher education institutes have consistently demonstrated that knowledge, curiosity, and creativity are powerful forces for progress.

Few embody this spirit more profoundly than Mary Somerville: the self-taught mathematician, born in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders and raised in Fife, who rose to international acclaim, united scientific disciplines, and helped lay the foundations of modern scientific thinking. Her life reminds us of what becomes possible when talent is nurtured, collaboration is encouraged, and barriers to participation are dismantled.

Today, Scotland has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to build on this legacy. Our researchers are generating discoveries with the potential to transform global challenges, from health and climate resilience to data, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The true value of this research is realised not only in academic achievement, but in its translation into real-world impact: new companies, thriving industries, skilled jobs, and solutions that improve lives.

As a nation we are working together to accelerate the journey from breakthrough to business, to support our innovators at every stage, ensuring that public investment in research delivers broad economic and societal benefit. Achieving this will require us to strengthen our partnerships – between universities, industry, investors, the public sector, and the people whose ideas drive progress. It also requires us to hold ourselves accountable by monitoring our progress.

This report outlines the fantastic work underway to strengthen Scotland’s research commercialisation ecosystem and the public sector’s support for making this ambition a reality. This report provides a framework of metrics within which we, as the public sector, will monitor our progress over the next five years.

By adopting the same spirit of rigour, openness, and ambition that defined Mary Somerville’s work, Scotland can continue to lead in discovery and remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. I invite all our partners to join us in celebrating our successes and committing to continue to strengthen our excellence in turning knowledge into impact, and potential into prosperity – for Scotland and for the global community we serve.