NHS Forth Valley and Codebase: Collaborative Focus Group

Join us at NHS Forth Valley hospital alongside founders and NHS staff to discuss health innovation and shape future collaboration.

What is it?

This interactive session brings together founders, the CodeBase community and NHS Forth Valley to explore how the NHS can better support health innovation.

The session is designed to create open dialogue around collaboration, understand the real challenges founders face when engaging with the NHS, and shape practical ways of working together. It will also explore what support founders need to develop, validate, and scale health-related startups within an NHS context.

Why attend?

Founders will have the opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and ideas directly with NHS Forth Valley. Attendees will gain insight into how the NHS approaches innovation, what support is available, and what future collaboration could look like.

The session is a chance to influence how NHS Forth Valley works with startups, connect with other health-focused founders, and help shape more accessible, effective pathways for collaboration across health and innovation.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:15 – Arrival & Registration

10:15 – 10:25 – Welcome & Context
An introduction to NHS Forth Valley’s vision for working with founders and the aims of the session.

10:25 – 10:45 – Founder Introductions
A quick roundtable introduction from each founder, covering who they are, what they’re working on, and what they hope to take away from the session.

10:45 – 11:05 – Understanding Founder Needs & Challenges
Breakout discussions exploring experiences of engaging with the NHS, barriers to collaboration, and what an ideal partnership looks like.

11:05 – 11:20 – Comfort Break

11:20 – 11:40 – Deeper Understanding of Needs
An interactive discussion, including a live poll, to identify where support from the NHS is most needed and what would make the biggest difference for founders.

11:40 – 12:10 – Discussion on Proposed Financial Model
Review and feedback on a proposed approach to funding and supporting collaboration between the NHS and startups.

12:10 – 12:15 – Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Summary of key insights, next steps, and plans for future engagement.

What can I expect?

You can expect open and honest conversations, interactive discussions, and opportunities to directly influence how NHS Forth Valley works with founders.

The session will include breakout groups, live polling, and plenty of time to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with others working at the intersection of health and innovation.

Light Snacks and refreshements will be provided.

Who will be there?

This event is aimed at founders and startups from the CodeBase community who are interested in health innovation or working with the NHS.

You’ll also meet representatives from NHS Forth Valley, alongside facilitators and members of the wider CodeBase ecosystem.

Registration

We ask everyone to sign up individually, so we can have an estimate of how many people are attending. We will also check-in each person on Eventbrite as they join the event so make sure you've signed up to the event in order to attend!

What is Techscaler?

Techscaler is a Scottish Government funded programme, delivered by CodeBase, and offers tailored support for everyone in Scotland who wants to build a startup, whether they are considering a career in startups or are developing, building and scaling an idea.

We offer Community and Member access to world-class education, a peer-led online and offline community, and flexible workspaces.

Techscaler membership is for any prospective or current startup founder, startup employees, or more broadly anyone who is involved in the Scottish tech ecosystem. Membership offers tailored support depending on your goals. When someone applies to become a Techscaler member, our team can direct applicants to the most suitable Techscaler support.

To find out more, watch this video on YouTube: “What is Techscaler and what does it mean for me and my region?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDg48x6hMVw.

To join, visit https://www.techscaler.co.uk.

What is CodeBase?

CodeBase is a tech incubator, making startups accessible to everyone. Through building culture, community and education, we promote and support tech innovation. We offer flexible and affordable hotdesking and office space, education programmes delivered by expert industry operators, and an offline and digital community where startup founders and staff can connect and help each other.

We are CodeBase. We believe in startups for everyone and the power of community.

We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our culture - from our spaces and events, to our education programmes and community. In whatever way you interact with the CodeBase community, we require you to treat everyone with respect, regardless of background or personal beliefs.

What is NHS Innovation Forth Valley?

At NHS Forth Valley, our Innovation Team is dedicated to enabling whole system transformation and disruptive innovation across health and care. We work collaboratively with external partners, including industry, academia, life sciences, and third sector organisations, to identify priority challenges and co-design impactful solutions that improve outcomes and experiences for our population.

Guided by the NHS Forth Valley Innovation Plan 2022–27, we focus on accelerating digital services and innovation, embedding preventative solutions to improve population health and reduce inequalities, and optimising the use of digital and data technologies to design and deliver health and care services. We also support the successful integration of technology-driven health solutions.

We provide robust governance, guidance, and access to regional and national networks, including the West of Scotland Innovation Hub. Our approach ensures that all projects align with organisational priorities and the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

Our long-term ambition is to deliver sustainable benefits by reducing costs through efficient and effective technologies, empowering people to drive progress, and celebrating success with our partners. By fostering an innovation culture and creating opportunities for collaboration, we aim to transform health and wellbeing across Forth Valley and beyond.

Code of Conduct

Our events are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue. Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of CodeBase.

Please see the full code of conduct on our website: https://www.thisiscodebase.com/code-of-conduct.

Privacy Policy

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Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on our Data Protection and Privacy Policy.

Photographs

Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout the event. These will be used by CodeBase for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and in social media or in any third party publication. Please contact us at community@thisiscodebase.com if you have any concerns.