Alyn Smith appointed new Scottish innovation minister

The Scottish government has announced that MSP for Stirling Alyn Smith will take on the role of Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, subject to parliamentary approval.

First Minister John Swinney describes Smith as “one of the most experienced parliamentarians in the UK” – he served as an MEP for more than 15 years, before being elected first as an MP in 2019 and then as an MSP in the recent Holyrood elections.

The role of innovation minister fell vacant after Ben Macpherson stepped down last week. The portfolio was newly created in May, combining responsibility for further and higher education (including university research) with an additional focus on innovation and technology.

Earlier this week, the SNP administration set out its programme for government over the next five years. A lengthy section on growing the economy promises to establish a “high growth unit” for the nation which will support high-potential businesses to scale, anchor and grow. Over the summer, the Scottish government also launched its new National Council for Economic Growth, fulfilling a manifesto commitment.

Other innovation-related measures in the work programme date back to the 2023 Scottish innovation strategy, such as launching a Scottish Innovation Fund focusing on university spinouts in conjunction with the Scottish National Investment Bank. The programme for government also recommits to the four priority innovation areas which were first laid out in the innovation strategy: energy transition, health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and data and digital technologies.