A focal point for business innovation in Scotland, the virtual event will connect small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups with leading innovators, academics, entrepreneurs and investors from across the globe to explore new opportunities that marry purpose and profitability.

The 2022 iteration of the Summit will offer practical insights on how people power combined with the right tech and sustainable and inclusive business practices can accelerate and enable a smoother digital transformation journey for Start-ups and SMEs. The event will also provide a timely legacy platform to examine what the outcomes of COP 26 will mean for business.

Now in its third year, the Summit, which last year attracted over 1000 attendees from across the globe, will be held online from 23rd February 2022, followed by in-person elements in the preceding weeks.

With a focus on community-building and peer to peer learning; more than 40 speakers are expected to take part in the 2022 CAN DO Innovation Summit, including SME business leaders from a broad church of sectors – from energy, advanced manufacturing and the arts to fintech and food and drink.

Keynote speakers already confirmed for the Summit include:

• Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and the Economy.
• Wade Davis, Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix. Davis is a Global Champion for Innovation for UN women, a former national surrogate for President Obama and was the first NFL LGBT inclusion consultant.
• Gayemarie Brown, CEO of Wintam Place Consulting, listed as one of the top futurists in the world by Forbes with more than 25 years’ experience helping companies of all sizes across the world apply existing and emerging tech to update their business models for the future.
• Dan May, Art Director and VFX Artist at award-winning design studio Painting Practice, working on titles such as Black Mirror, Gravity and the recent HBO/BBC show, His Dark Materials.

Diverse industry insights will be complemented by contributions from leading academics, investors and a range of innovation ecosystem support agencies advising on matching tech with business needs, funding, growing digital talent, collaboration opportunities and more.

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy Kate Forbes said: “Innovation will be at the heart of Scotland’s successful and pioneering green economy. The CAN DO Innovation Summit will be a key focal point in supporting a strong, collaborative approach to drive sustainable growth and a culture of innovation in Scottish businesses.”

Dr Susie Mitchell, programme director, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation (lead agency for the CAN DO Innovation Summit) said: “Scotland is already a leader in innovation and we will showcase that at the Summit. By designing support, including ‘market square’ and peer learning opportunities like the Summit, that empower Start-up and SMEs to innovate through digital, diversity and a commitment to influence change – we will get one step closer to reaching our ambition of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best performing countries, while tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time.”

Gayemarie Brown said: “All businesses need to understand how to apply new technologies such as AI, IoT, Robotics, 3D printing or next generation blockchain to drive change, increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Innovation is accessible to all companies, requiring a mindset that embraces design thinking, agility and change. I’ll be talking about emerging tech that businesses need to know about in the digital transformation space, to update their business models, stay ahead of the curve and embrace the future”.

Early-bird tickets are currently available at a discounted rate of £25 (+VAT). Delegates can guarantee a place at the Summit by purchasing tickets from: bit.ly/CDIS22