Dundee is positioning itself at the forefront of Scotland’s health technology ambitions, with an open invitation extended to innovators, clinicians, researchers, and the public to gather at a landmark event next month.
The Tay Health Tech Gathering 2026 takes place on Wednesday 10 June at the Apex City Quay Hotel on Dundee’s waterfront — and organisers say this year’s event marks a significant step forward for a region increasingly serious about its MedTech credentials.
The name change alone tells a story. Where last year’s event was branded a ‘conference’, the decision to call it a ‘gathering’ is a deliberate signal of intent. Elaine Gemmell, Head of Regulatory Affairs at InnoScot Health and chair of this year’s discussion panel, explained the thinking: “We feel that a ‘gathering’ is more meaningful, better reflecting the event’s inclusive aims and programme of activities for a like-minded community of attendees.”
Building on Real Momentum
The Tay Health Tech initiative has been doing serious work behind the scenes. Led by the University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University, it brings together NHS Tayside, Scottish Enterprise, Dundee City Council, Angus Council, the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, Edinburgh Napier University, and a range of civic partners — all focused on accelerating the adoption of healthcare technologies while tackling health inequalities in Tayside.
The Gathering will showcase the tangible results of that collaboration, with a hands-on showcase of Grand Challenge projects giving attendees the chance to try out devices and speak directly with the teams building them. It’s a rare opportunity to see MedTech innovation in action rather than just on a slide deck.
That progress comes against a backdrop of growing momentum for health tech across Scotland — including a £500,000 equity raise by MedTech firm Airglove Medical, developed to enhance patient wellbeing and reduce NHS costs, and Scottish Enterprise’s £8 million commitment to a Dundee Life Sciences Innovation Hub anchored by the University of Dundee.
What to Expect on the Day
Beyond the project showcase, the programme includes a keynote from Hazel Dempsey, North of Scotland Innovation Programme Lead at NHS Grampian, an extended knowledge exchange lunchtime session with Tay Health Tech’s civic partners, and two discussion panels: one making the case for why Tayside is the best location for life sciences and biomedical innovation, and another focused squarely on medical device regulation — offering practical ‘lessons learnt’ advice for innovators at all stages.
That regulatory thread is one of the event’s most valuable offerings. Gemmell was direct about the stakes: “Ensuring the safe and effective design of medical devices is vital to Tay Health Tech ambitions if all involved are to successfully innovate while reducing inequalities.”
Who Should Attend
The organisers are casting the net wide — this isn’t just a room for academics and clinicians. Representatives from industry, spinouts, local authorities, further education, and members of the public who want to understand what MedTech can do for their communities are all explicitly welcome.
Dundee has long been a city of reinvention, and the Tay Health Tech Gathering is another marker of its transformation into a serious innovation destination. The City of Discovery is already making global headlines for its medical breakthroughs — this June, it gets to show what’s coming next.
