Scotland’s biggest sporting moment in more than a generation is here. As the country prepares to cheer on the national team at the World Cup — and Glasgow prepares to host the Commonwealth Games — a new wave of technologies is changing how we understand the human body. Not just for elite athletes, but for everyone.
From wearable devices to AI-powered health tools, innovations once confined to specialist settings are now helping people monitor their health in real time, detect illnesses earlier, and gain deeper insights into their wellbeing.
This Art of Possible session explores how Glasgow’s innovators are developing the next generation of health technologies — and how advances in sensing, diagnostics and data-driven insights are transforming the way we understand and manage human health. This will be a valuable session for researchers, entrepreneurs, founders, clinicians, technology leaders, investors and anyone interested in the future of healthcare.
Transforming paediatric neurodiagnostics through AI‑enabled clinical data analysis to improve how childhood diseases are identified, diagnosed, and managed
Background
Seluna Ltd is a Scottish med‑tech startup whose work focuses on paediatric healthcare and transforming how childhood diseases are identified, diagnosed, and managed—starting with sleep‑disordered breathing. Through a collaboration with the University of Glasgow supported by Interface and an Innovation Voucher, Seluna has taken a major step toward enabling accurate diagnosis of childhood obstructive sleep disordered breathing through AI‑driven analysis of wearable and hospital device data.
Childhood sleep‑disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea, is a common yet under‑diagnosed condition with significant short‑ and long‑term health consequences. Seluna Ltd was established to address this unmet clinical need by combining advanced software, data science, and machine‑learning expertise with clinically grounded innovation.
The Challenge
Approximately 4% of children are affected by obstructive sleep apnoea, yet an estimated 80% remain undiagnosed. Current diagnostic pathways rely on hospital‑based overnight sleep studies that are slow, expensive, labour‑intensive, and dependent on scarce specialist staff. These constraints place significant pressure on NHS services and mean many children never receive a sleep study or appropriate treatment.
Seluna had already developed machine‑learning software capable of automating sleep‑study analysis, tackling a major bottleneck in the diagnostic process. However, the challenge remains that an accurate diagnosis still requires an in-hospital study.
The Solution
Through an Interface‑funded Innovation Voucher project running from November 2024 to February 2025, Seluna partnered with the University of Glasgow to develop a novel AI algorithm pipeline, capable of identifying sleep apnoea from wearable cardiorespiratory signals. This was a feasibility study to show that Seluna’s custom AI data analytics, paired with existing wearable technology, may allow for accurate, home-based testing in children.
Interface played a critical role by initiating and funding the collaboration, enabling Seluna to access world‑leading expertise and facilities that were not available in‑house or commercially. The academic team – led by Dr Jack Radford and Professor Daniele Faccio’s Extreme Light Group—provided specialist knowledge in biophotonics, signal processing, machine learning, light–tissue interaction, optical signal acquisition, and experimental design. Their laboratory infrastructure and academic expertise enabled rapid feasibility testing and optimisation.
The collaboration was highly synergistic, combining Seluna’s strengths in AI, signal processing, and clinical data analysis with the University’s deep expertise in biosensors. The project was further supported by clinicians from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Royal Hospital for Children, Sleep & Respiratory Medicine, ENT, and Clinical Physics, exemplifying a strong industry–academia–healthcare partnership.
Company Benefits
- The proof of concept generated through the Interface‑supported project directly contributed to Seluna securing £580,000 in private investment in June 2025, enabling the creation of two new full‑time roles and safeguarding four existing positions.
- The collaboration strengthened Seluna’s credibility in deep‑tech medical innovation and supported the award of £267k in additional public funding, including the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award (£70,000, December 2024) and a Scottish Enterprise implementation grant (£48,000, July 2025).
- Clinically, the work enabled Seluna to launch a 500‑patient Phase 1 clinical validation study with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and to establish new collaborations with NHS Sheffield, NHS Southampton, and leading paediatric hospitals in the United States.
- Also it allowed Seluna to establish a long-lasting collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which continues to drive and accelerate R&D activities today.
Academic Benefits
- The project delivered significant academic impact, particularly for Dr Radford, for whom it represented the first opportunity to secure and lead an independent grant – an important milestone toward academic independence. It provided clear evidence of translational research, demonstrating how biophotonics expertise can address actual clinical and industrial challenges.
- The collaboration expanded the research group’s engagement with industry‑partnered funding and international networks. Follow‑on funding supported research visits to Boston in March 2025, strengthening links with MIT, Harvard University, and major US paediatric hospitals.
- The Interface project led directly to an extended consultancy agreement with Seluna, the award of an SFC QuantumARC grant, and the University of Glasgow’s involvement in a wider Innovate UK programme with Seluna, reinforcing long‑term strategic collaboration.
Next Steps
- Seluna and the University of Glasgow will continue working through an ongoing consultancy to deliver a research prototype device in 2026, supporting further investment and clinical validation.
- Seluna is planning a UK‑wide multicentre Phase 2 clinical study beginning in February 2026, alongside parallel preparations for US‑based studies.
- From an academic perspective, the results of the Interface project are supporting fellowship applications and a proposed co‑funded PhD studentship aimed at translating biophotonics research into commercial IP and product development. These next steps ensure sustained impact for both Seluna and the academic partners.
Join Dr Katherine Gunderson, founder and CEO of Grand Bequest, for the next GCoSI Deep Dive at Glasgow Science Centre — exploring how data, regeneration and technology could help reimagine vacant buildings across Glasgow and beyond.
Fresh from speaking at London Tech Week, Katherine will bring fresh insights from one of the world’s leading technology conferences.
Thousands of buildings across Glasgow lie empty long-term — from former homes and shops to historic properties and unused spaces. They are silent reminders of changing industries, shifting populations and untapped potential.
This GCoSI Deep Dive asks a big question: could emerging technologies such as AI help reimagine these spaces and bring them back into use?
Join an audience-led conversation with Dr Katherine Gunderson, founder and CEO of Grand Bequest — Scotland’s first PropTech B Corp and the world’s first AI-driven platform for redeveloping vacant buildings. Through her work combining data, conservation and sustainability, Katherine will explore how we can rethink empty properties not as problems, but as opportunities to create community value, support social and affordable housing, preserve heritage and unlock long-term impact.
Glasgow has a long history of innovation, and today that same spirit is pushing the boundaries of how we design and interact with technology. This GCoSI Deep Dive explores a different perspective: what happens when we create technology not just for humans, but for animals too?
Focusing on the field of animal–computer interaction, this session explores how animals engage with technology — from building the “dog internet” to parrots video-calling each other and interactive environments for zoo animals. What does this reveal about intelligence, behaviour and how we design?
Join Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, an Animal-Computer Interaction researcher at the University of Glasgow and Director of the Animal-Computer Interaction Lab for an open, story-led conversation exploring how animals interact with technology — and what it means to design for users beyond humans.
At DataFest, industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners come together to explore how data and AI are redefining our world – from the way we work and live, to how we connect and create.
Expect world-class speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers across sectors and industries.
For 2026 the theme ‘Intelligent Futures’ will explore how data and AI are transforming the systems, industries, and societies of tomorrow – with a focus on long-term impact, trust, and responsible scale.
The Times and Sunday Times Scotland: Future of Digital Tech Summit, delivered in partnership with Opportunity North East.
Step into the heart of Scotland’s digital evolution at The Future of Digital Tech, hosted in Aberdeen – home to a dynamic tech cluster developing solutions for global industries. Join a celebration of the founders and investors driving entrepreneurial growth. Take a deep dive into what makes globally competitive tech ventures thrive, and spotlight AI developments transforming key sectors and shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Powered by one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech clusters—and backed by a founder-focused private-sector-led entrepreneurial ecosystem —the Aberdeen city region is delivering scalable solutions across industrial AI, data, automation, and enterprise software, with deep roots in high-value industries including energy, agriculture, food and drink manufacturing and life sciences.
Hosted by The Times and Sunday Times Scotland, in partnership with Opportunity North East and the Scottish National Investment Bank, the agenda brings together founders, industry leaders, innovators and investors from across the UK to share experiences and practical insights on scaling innovation-led enterprises and shaping the digital industrial future. The event will examine what investors look for in industrial AI and B2B SaaS, and how founders fund and build strong teams and products for impactful returns.
Glasgow has long been a powerhouse of industrial ingenuity. Once dubbed the “Second City of the Empire,” it earned global recognition for engineering excellence—home to world-class shipyards, locomotive manufacturers, and heavy industries that shaped the modern age. The River Clyde launched some of the world’s most iconic vessels, while inventors like James Watt powered the Industrial Revolution and laid the foundations for global mobility.
Today, that same spirit of innovation is driving a new revolution—this time towards a cleaner, smarter, net-zero future. As part of the #Glasgow850 celebrations, this special edition of award-winning Art of Possible series will explore how Glasgow City Region’s legacy of industrial ingenuity is powering a new era of clean, smart and sustainable transport.
Join a panel of innovators to explore how emerging technologies are redefining mobility and logistics—making systems smarter and more sustainable. The event will spotlight cutting-edge innovations in green transport and delve into the infrastructure, investment and cross-sector collaboration needed to scale them.
Speakers Include:
- Dr. Stephen Breslin – Chief Executive, Glasgow Science Centre
- Dr. Duncan Booker – Group Manager (Green Economy, Innovation & International), Glasgow City Council (Chair)
- Dr. Mahmoud Wagih – University of Glasgow & Founder at RX Watt Ltd
- More speakers to be confirmed soon
Now in its 8th year, this award-winning series connects innovators, creatives, and industry leaders to explore how unexpected tech collaborations drive new ideas and solutions. It’s also an official primer for Scotland’s CAN DO Innovation Summit.
The Data Analytics Conference & Sandpit taking place at UHI Inverness on 25th August will provide an opportunity for students and academics from across Scotland to showcase their research, and for industry professionals to collaborate with academic experts to design innovative solutions for data problems in their businesses.
The programme will consist of in-person talks, poster presentations and sandpit sessions.
For students and academics
If you are a researcher based in Scotland and are interested in presenting your work through a poster presentation, please submit your details.
For businesses, industry and third sector professionals
If you have a business problem that requires a data-solution but you aren’t quite sure where to start, we would love to invite to you participate in a sandpit session. Please see the Sandpit overview, submit your details and we will contact you about next steps.
Organisers
The event is being organised by Dr Andrew Duncan at University of Highlands and Islands with support from SICSA.
Accelerate your HealthTech solution with University of Glasgow’s Evidence Generation Bootcamp!
Building on the success of the inaugural bootcamp last year, the Digital Health Validation Lab is hosting its second edition on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd of October. This two-day, hands-on event is designed for HealthTech innovators who are ready to accelerate their solutions and drive real-world impact.
In today’s fast-moving and competitive HealthTech landscape, robust evidence is critical to achieving regulatory approval, adoption, scale, and long-term success. This bootcamp provides a practical framework to help you confidently navigate the complexities of evidence generation and build a clear, actionable strategy aligned with your innovation and route to market.
Through expert-led sessions, you’ll gain:
- Clarity on your evidence requirements and how to address them effectively
- Confidence to engage key stakeholders with timely, relevant evidence and navigate complex evidence demands
- A personalised roadmap for evidence generation, tailored to your solution and market strategy
- Improved understanding of approaches to: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI); concept validation; health economic modelling; simulation; technical feasibility and AI performance testing; clinical investigations for regulatory approval; and clinical and cost-effectiveness studies to support adoption.
Who should attend?
HealthTech startups, SMEs, innovation leads, and academic researchers ready to turn a great solution into an evidence-backed, scalable success.
Headline speakers include:
Professor Olivia Wu is a globally recognised authority in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). She holds the prestigious William R Lindsay Chair of Health Economics at the University of Glasgow’s HEHTA and serves as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Mahidol University in Thailand.
Professor Neil Hawkins is a Professor of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) at the University of Glasgow, where he brings decades of cross-sector experience to advancing evidence-based healthcare decision-making. His career spans academia, industry, and consultancy, with contributions across pharmacology, clinical development, epidemiology, and HTA.
Professor David Lowe is an Emergency Consultant at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Clinical Director of Innovation at the University of Glasgow, and Clinical Director for Health Innovation for the Scottish Government.
Ticket Price
£295.00 – Early Bird Rate (until 15 August 2025)
£350.00 – Standard Rate (from 16 August 2025)
Please note that registration will close on Friday 19 September.