Fusion Fest is a vibrant gathering of entrepreneurs, innovators, and creative thinkers, hosted annually by the Glasgow City Innovation District. The event in Glasgow last month (May) highlighted some of Scotland’s most innovative ideas and underscored a recurring theme that resonates strongly with Interface’s “collaboration” ethos.

Hosted by Jason Bradbury, best known for The Gadget Show, the day began with a clever twist. Jason appeared via video to introduce the event, only for the real Jason to walk onstage moments later, revealing the intro was entirely AI-generated. It was a fitting opening for a festival focused on the future, and a powerful reminder of how quickly technology is reshaping storytelling and audience engagement.

One of the sessions of the day that stood out for me was a fireside chat with Revive Eco. Scott and Fergus (the Founders) shared their journey from a sustainable waste solution to launching a circular skincare range. Their story reflected the power of persistence and purpose-led innovation.  A few years ago, I had the pleasure of sharing a business accelerator with both founders, so it’s been amazing to watch Revive Eco grow, and I’m excited to see what’s next for them.

During a thought-provoking panel discussion, Kelly MacDonald from the Harris Tweed Authority offered insight into the challenges of protecting a global heritage brand. I learned that Harris Tweed must legally be woven in weavers’ own homes in the Outer Hebrides, and that currently, there is a shortage of weavers. Kelly also spoke candidly about the difficulty in monitoring trademark use and the number of ‘counterfeit’ Harris Tweed products appearing on the market. The key takeaways from the panel were collaboration, creativity, resilience, curiosity, and drive. Several panellists also reflected on the modest, often self-deprecating culture of Scottish people, a strength and challenge in equal measure.

A personal highlight was hearing from Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green & Black’s. Jo spoke with passion about building a brand rooted in ethics, storytelling and her unshakable belief in her product. Her PR approach was grassroots and relentlessly sending chocolate samples to editors, chefs and anyone who might listen. Her anecdote about a religious group lobbying Sainsbury’s to stock her chocolate was as entertaining as it was revealing. Jo’s advice was clear: authenticity, clarity of purpose, and persistence are non-negotiable.

Fusion Fest was a reminder that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It thrives through the connection between people, disciplines, and innovation. That spirit of collaboration and innovation is exactly what Interface champions, and it was inspiring to see it so clearly embodied throughout the day. Find out more about how Interface connects businesses to academics for research and development.

Photo: Glasgow City Innovation District