Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray will visit Japan this week to promote Scotland’s medical technology sector and develop new tech-enabled methods of improving services.
Mr Gray will be accompanied to Osaka and Tokyo by representatives of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish firms working in robotics, AI and medical equipment.
His visit comes amid reports that former prime minister Sir Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change will be advising Scottish Labour on healthcare policies and new ways of using technology to benefit patients.
Mr Gray will deliver a keynote speech on Scotland’s health system and legacy of innovation. He will chair a pitching session, host a networking reception and visit Canon Medical Systems – a key partner in Scotland’s growing medtech network.
Ahead of the trip, Scottish Enterprise provided £3.6m towards a £14m investment in AI-led data analysis by Canon Medical Research Europe. It was launched in 1994 as Edinburgh University spin-put Voxar and was acquired by Canon in 2016.
President Ken Sutherland said: “It makes me very proud to think that the innovation we create here is Scotland can benefit the people of Scotland and, through our parent company, the rest of the world.”
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Adrian Gillespie said the research by Canon Medical Research Europe in Edinburgh, “has the potential to be transformative for the NHS in Scotland” and for health services in other countries.
Mr Gray said: “Scotland has earned a strong international reputation for pioneering health technologies that improve outcomes and enhance care.
“This trade mission is an opportunity to demonstrate our strengths to new audiences, deepen our relationships with Japanese innovators and investors, and share how Scotland’s integrated approach to healthcare and innovation is delivering real-world benefits.
“By supporting Scotland’s healthcare innovation sector we can help to encourage the kind of technologies that will ultimately benefit patients in Scotland.
“Strengthening international partnerships like this supports economic growth, attracts inward investment and jobs, and ultimately helps us tackle some of the biggest challenges facing health systems at home and across the world.”
Managing director of international operations at Scottish Enterprise, Reuben Aitken said: “Life sciences and healthtech generate over £10 billion annually for the Scottish economy and international events such as Expo 2025 provide opportunities for trade, export, and collaboration across these key industries.
“The companies heading to Japan are at the forefront of their fields in medical devices, AI and robotics. They are exhibiting their products and connecting with new markets in Japan.”
The healthtech mission follows the first ‘Scotland Day’ in April, when a delegation of companies from the gaming and consumer industries took part in Expo 2025 Japan organised by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government on the UK Pavilion.
Feedback from the gaming start-ups was positive as they were able to explore new markets in Japan and generate new business leads with early data from consumer-focused companies forecasting sales of over £7 million. A third event, focusing on offshore wind, will take place in September
The full list of companies joining the delegation at Expo 2025 Japan are:
- Touchlab – Scottish robotics company pioneering ultra-thin electronic skin technology that allows robots, prosthetics, and remote-operated machines to sense and respond to their environment with human-like tactile perception.
- Konpanion – Designs empathetic companion robots for alleviating loneliness and enhancing well-being. Their flagship product, Maah, resembles a ‘living pillow’ and offers emotional support by emulating pet-like behaviours.
- NamiSurgical – Produce miniaturised ultrasonic scalpels that can be used in minimally invasive surgeries. The device uses ultrasonic energy to cut and coagulate tissue, offering high precision and minimal thermal damage to surrounding areas. Its miniaturised design is essential for integration into robotic systems, allowing surgeons to perform delicate procedures with enhanced control and accuracy.
- iGii – Develops advanced electrochemical biosensing solutions powered by its proprietary nanomaterial, Gii. Specialising in next-generation diagnostics, iGii integrates Gii into scalable, high-performance platforms for healthcare, environmental, and industrial applications.
- J&D Wilkie – Textile manufacturers, family owned, dating back to 1868. The company specialise in high-performance technical textiles for various industries including medical applications.
- Talking Mats – A social enterprise dedicated to enhancing the communication abilities of individuals with communication difficulties. Founded by speech and language therapists, the organisation has developed an innovative visual communication framework known as ‘Talking Mats’
source