About us

Innovation that begins with NHS needs and delivers NHS impact.

HISES is the Health Innovation South East Scotland test bed. We help innovators and NHS teams work together to develop, test and scale solutions that make a real difference to patients, staff and communities.

About us

Innovation that begins with NHS needs and delivers NHS impact.

HISES is the Health Innovation South East Scotland test bed. We help innovators and NHS teams work together to develop, test and scale solutions that make a real difference to patients, staff and communities.

About us

Innovation that begins with NHS needs and delivers NHS impact.

HISES is the Health Innovation South East Scotland test bed. We help innovators and NHS teams work together to develop, test and scale solutions that make a real difference to patients, staff and communities.

Health Innovation South East Scotland (HISES)

HISES is the NHS Regional Innovation Hub for South East Scotland, established by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to accelerate the development, testing, evaluation and adoption of innovative solutions that improve health and care. Hosted by NHS Lothian and delivered in partnership with NHS Borders and NHS Fife, HISES forms part of Scotland’s national network of NHS Regional Innovation Hubs.

We bring together the NHS, academia, industry, local authorities, the third sector, patients and communities to address some of the most pressing challenges facing health and social care. By creating opportunities to test and evaluate innovation in real-world healthcare settings, we help turn promising ideas into practical solutions that improve outcomes for patients, enhance staff experience and increase system productivity.

A clinician showing a patient health data on a tablet

Our vision

Our vision is to create a connected, innovation-driven health and care system that delivers sustainable, equitable and patient-centred solutions through collaboration with academia, industry, and communities.

Our vision

Our mission

Our mission is to accelerate the discovery, development, and deployment of impactful innovations. We do this through collaboration, capability building, and evidence-based approaches with equity and inclusion at the core of all innovation efforts.

Our mission

We focus on innovations that can:

Improve patient and population health outcomes

Reduce health inequalities

Enhance workforce experience and productivity

Support prevention and early intervention

Enable digitally enabled and data-driven care

Contribute to sustainable economic growth across Scotland

The role of HISES

HISES acts as a bridge between unmet health and care challenges and innovative solutions.

As an NHS-embedded innovation test bed, we provide the expertise, partnerships and infrastructure needed to safely develop, test and evaluate new technologies, services and care models within real healthcare environments before wider adoption.

A hand holding a network of connected people icons

The role of HISES

HISES acts as a bridge between unmet health and care challenges and innovative solutions.

As an NHS-embedded innovation test bed, we provide the expertise, partnerships and infrastructure needed to safely develop, test and evaluate new technologies, services and care models within real healthcare environments before wider adoption.

A hand holding a network of connected people icons

The role of HISES

HISES acts as a bridge between unmet health and care challenges and innovative solutions.

As an NHS-embedded innovation test bed, we provide the expertise, partnerships and infrastructure needed to safely develop, test and evaluate new technologies, services and care models within real healthcare environments before wider adoption.

A hand holding a network of connected people icons

From idea to implementation

Our role is to:

  • Identify priority challenges across health and social care

  • Connect innovators with clinicians, patients and healthcare services facilitating safe and ethical access

  • Facilitate real-world evaluation of new technologies and innovations

  • Support evidence generation, deployment and scaling of proven solutions

  • Create partnerships between the NHS, academia, industry and the third sector

  • Support Scotland’s ambitions for innovation, population health improvement and economic growth

By reducing barriers to innovation and providing a clear route from idea to implementation, we help ensure that effective innovations can reach patients and services faster.

Illustration of a glowing brain inside a human head

From idea to implementation

Our role is to:

  • Identify priority challenges across health and social care

  • Connect innovators with clinicians, patients and healthcare services facilitating safe and ethical access

  • Facilitate real-world evaluation of new technologies and innovations

  • Support evidence generation, deployment and scaling of proven solutions

  • Create partnerships between the NHS, academia, industry and the third sector

  • Support Scotland’s ambitions for innovation, population health improvement and economic growth

By reducing barriers to innovation and providing a clear route from idea to implementation, we help ensure that effective innovations can reach patients and services faster.

Illustration of a glowing brain inside a human head

From idea to implementation

Our role is to:

  • Identify priority challenges across health and social care

  • Connect innovators with clinicians, patients and healthcare services facilitating safe and ethical access

  • Facilitate real-world evaluation of new technologies and innovations

  • Support evidence generation, deployment and scaling of proven solutions

  • Create partnerships between the NHS, academia, industry and the third sector

  • Support Scotland’s ambitions for innovation, population health improvement and economic growth

By reducing barriers to innovation and providing a clear route from idea to implementation, we help ensure that effective innovations can reach patients and services faster.

Illustration of a glowing brain inside a human head

Meet the teams

Three NHS Boards. One team.

HISES brings together NHS Lothian, NHS Fife and NHS Borders to create a connected innovation test bed across South East Scotland. By combining the strengths of three health systems, we help innovators access the expertise, environments and partnerships needed to develop and test solutions effectively. If another regional innovation hub is better placed to support your project, we'll help you find the right route.

NHS Lothian

Our largest board, covering Edinburgh and the Lothians.

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NHS Lothian

NHS Borders

Rural and community care across the Scottish Borders.

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NHS Borders

NHS Fife

Working with communities and services across Fife to improve health and care.

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NHS Fife

Across Scotland

Part of a Connected Innovation Network

HISES works alongside Scotland's other NHS regional innovation hubs to support health and care innovation nationwide. Each hub has its own strengths, expertise and test environments. If your innovation is better suited elsewhere, we'll help connect you with the right people and the right opportunity.

North of Scotland

Covering the Highlands, Grampian, Tayside and the islands.

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North of Scotland

West of Scotland

Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and beyond.

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West of Scotland