INNOVATION IS THE KEY TO SURVIVAL

SCOTLAND MUST REMAIN OPTIMISTIC AND PERSISTENT IN ORDER TO INNOVATE THROUGH THE RECESSION. THAT’S THE STARK WARNING FROM THE HEAD OF SCOTLAND’S LARGEST BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATION.

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sabell Majewsky, chief executive of GO Group, believes that innovation is key to helping Scotland’s ailing economy.

She said: ‘Scotland has always been a nation of innovators - from John Logie Baird and the television to Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone - the nation has produced inventions and innovations that have changed the world.

‘However, undoubtedly, as the world begins to feel the true effects of the recession, everyone is growing increasingly wary about how they run their business and particularly about developing and introducing new products to the market.

‘This sense of caution is a real barrier, and it is the belief of GO Group that Scotland must remain persistent during the credit crunch and press ahead and exceed its current ‘average’ innovation levels.’

Majewsky believes that Scotland has been sitting stagnant when it comes to innovation. She has tasked GO Group with the mandate of moving Scotland into the forefront by exploiting innovation for the benefit of not only Scotland, but the UK and much further a field.

And while Scotland’s innovation activity currently stands at the UK average of 56% of all firms Majewsky says Scotland can and must do better, particularly if it is to fare well during the credit crunch.

She said: ‘We understand that there are obstacles that must be overcome. In fact the economic risks, cost to innovators and the challenges of commercialisation and taking products to market have been identified as the most common barriers to innovation. These are the risks that GO Group

and the John Logie Baird Awards Programme aim to address.’

However it’s not all bad news for Scotland. The countries small service firms are amongst the highest innovation performers in the UK, which is certainly good news for Scotland’s new starts.

SCOTLAND’S TOP 10 INNOVATION HOTSPOTS

1. Glasgow 2. Edinburgh 3. Highlands & Islands 4. Lanarkshire 5. Renfrewshire 6. Aberdeenshire 7. Ayrshire 8. Tayside 9. Dunbartonshire 10. Forth Valley