• 
• 
• 

How can we stimulate the SME environment for assistive technologies in harsh economic times?

Scots budget councils ready for "tough decisions"

Councils will have to deal with a reduced budget of 2.6% Councils across Scotland are meeting to finalise their spending plans for the coming year.

Twenty three of the country's 32 local authorities are due to unveil their budgets against a 2.6% drop in funding from the Scottish government. Councils across Scotland are meeting to finalise their spending plans for the coming year. Twenty three of the country's 32 local authorities are due to unveil their budgets against a 2.6% drop in funding from the Scottish government. Cosla, the umbrella group representing the councils, said the cuts amounted to a £450m reduction in available funds.

The Scottish budget is being reduced by more than £1bn after UK Treasury funding cuts.

BBC News Scotland, 10 February 2011

A demographically ageing population with a need for improved support

A progressively ageing population is placing an increasing and heavy strain on health services but, at the same time people want to take control of their lives by adopting preventative measures and accessing therapeutic treatments to prolong independent living. As life expectancy rises in the developed world, so too does the demand for elderly citizens to better manage their lifestyles and medical conditions on their own terms.

Janette Hughes

Janette Hughes is Project Manager for the Wellness and Health Innovation Project which delivers market intelligence, product technology and innovation support and commercial advice principally to Scottish SMEs involved in the Wellness and Health market. Janette has an established background in project management along with a solid understanding of software and information technology specialising in web application and wireless technologies.

Wellness and Health Innovation is a national initiative designed to support Scottish SMEs that are developing innovative products, services or applications for the growing wellness and health market.

At the Institute of Nanotechnology’s forthcoming Conference Advanced Technologies for an Ageing Population to be held in Glasgow on 23/24 March 2011, Janette will explore the landscape for SMEs developing assistive technologies for the elderly, taking into account both the growing ageing population, the need to deliver effective services and the financial constraints faced by the health services and those caring for the elderly.

Further Information

Register

Leave a Comment