£14 Million AI Project in Edinburgh to Enhance Medical Scanning
Canon Medical Research Europe, based in Edinburgh, has secured £3.6 million in funding from Scottish Enterprise as part of a £14 million project focused on improving medical scans using artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative targets faster data analysis and aims to benefit patients and healthcare services by speeding up diagnostics and supporting clinical decisions.
The funding announcement took place during a meeting involving Dr Ken Sutherland, President of Canon Medical Research Europe; Neil Gray, Scottish Government Health Secretary; and Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise. It coincided with preparations for a health-focused event at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
AI to Automate and Accelerate Medical Imaging
The project will develop AI-driven smart solutions to automate routine tasks in medical imaging. This automation is expected to reduce patient scanning times and enable consultants to make quicker, better-informed decisions. Such improvements are particularly valuable for patients undergoing treatments like cancer therapy.
Canon Medical Research Europe will join a delegation of Scottish companies at Expo 2025’s Digital Health and Life Sciences Activation, held from June 23-26 in Osaka. This platform provides an opportunity to present Scotland’s advancements in health technology to an international audience, featuring participants from industry, academia, and NHS innovation hubs.
Scottish Leadership in Health Innovation
Neil Gray highlighted Scotland’s strong track record in health and life sciences innovation. He emphasized the potential of AI technology to speed up diagnosis, aid clinicians, and improve patient outcomes. Gray expressed pride in seeing Scottish expertise lead in these developments and anticipates showcasing them globally at Expo 2025.
Canon Medical Research Europe originated as Voxar, a spin-out from Edinburgh University in 1994, before being acquired by Canon in 2016. The company has grown into a centre of AI expertise for medical imaging in Scotland, employing over 100 scientists, engineers, and clinical experts under Dr Sutherland’s leadership. Their work includes contributions to the Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (ICAIRD), a collaboration across companies, universities, and the NHS.
Dr Ken Sutherland emphasized the focus on AI and automation to assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating more patients efficiently. He expressed pride in the company’s innovation benefiting Scotland and, through Canon, the global community.
Economic and Healthcare Impact
Adrian Gillespie of Scottish Enterprise pointed out the transformative potential of this research for the NHS in Scotland and health services worldwide. He noted that Scotland’s life sciences and healthtech sectors contribute nearly £10.5 billion annually to the economy.
The delegation traveling to Expo 2025 will include a range of Scottish healthtech companies showcasing innovations in areas like robotics, AI, and medical devices:
- Touchlab: Robotics company developing ultra-thin electronic skin that enables robots and prosthetics to sense their environment with human-like touch.
- Konpanion: Makers of empathetic companion robots designed to alleviate loneliness and support well-being, including their flagship 'Maah'—a living pillow offering emotional comfort.
- NamiSurgical: Producers of miniaturized ultrasonic scalpels for minimally invasive surgeries, suitable for integration into robotic systems.
- iGii: Developers of advanced electrochemical biosensing technology using proprietary nanomaterials for healthcare and environmental diagnostics.
- J&D Wilkie: Family-owned textile manufacturers specializing in high-performance technical textiles for medical and other industries.
- Talking Mats: A social enterprise that improves communication for people with speech difficulties through an innovative visual framework.
Global Opportunities and Future Collaboration
Canon’s Edinburgh site operates as part of Canon Medical Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan-based Canon Inc. During his visit to Japan, Neil Gray will participate in a roundtable with Canon’s parent group to discuss ongoing commitment and collaboration prospects.
As the global digital health market is projected to reach over $940 billion by 2032, driven by advances in medical imaging and related fields, Scotland’s role in innovation and research remains significant. Strong partnerships between academia, healthcare, and technology sectors continue to support this position.
Healthcare professionals interested in AI applications and automation in medical technology can explore relevant training and courses at Complete AI Training.
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