The Scottish Parliament has announced a pilot Techscaler hub in Silicon Valley for promising start-ups.

In her first speech since taking on the role as cabinet secretary for wellbeing economy, net zero and energy, Màiri McAllan told business leaders in Edinburgh the new hub in the California, US tech region would help promising start-ups from Scotland in areas from health technology to space to build contacts with international investors and customers.

Citing Scotland’s announcement of a £24.5 million grant to secure Japanese company Sumitomo Electric Industries’ investment in a new cable factory for the offshore wind sector at coastal village Nigg, McAllan also claimed Scotland could lead the net zero revolution using its “natural resources, world-class universities, and entrepreneurial spirit to build the industries of the future”.

“The future of the global economy is green – and I think it's my job and our job collectively to make sure that Scotland can derive the greatest possible benefit from that future,” McAllan said. “Our Green Industrial Strategy will be a key tool in helping business and investors realise the enormous opportunities ahead.”

McAllan closed out her speech by stating that her commitment was to encourage an approach across the whole of government to “actively listen, engage and communicate – to help achieve business success and in turn Scotland’s economic success.”

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