Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health and Care Innovation in the Moray Region

Project impact

12 Simulations and 5 living labs

2-4 significant inward investments and 30-50 high value jobs created

Enhancement of existing local health and care/digital-related certified courses to include digital health and care-related modules

The £5m Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health and Care (RCE), funded by the UK Government and managed and delivered by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), aims to advance Scotland's digital health agenda and support economic recovery. It includes a Demonstration & Simulation Environment (DSE) in Elgin and Living Labs for innovation collaboration across Moray.

The Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health and Care Innovation (RCE) is a £5M initiative funded by the UK Government through the Moray Growth Deal. Delivered by Scotland’s National Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and focused on the Moray local authority area, the initiative plans on becoming a key driver of the country-wide digital health and care agenda being promoted in Scotland and as a critical component of the remobilisation and economic recovery strategy.

Summary

The £5m Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health and Care (RCE), funded by the UK Government and managed and delivered by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), aims to advance Scotland's digital health agenda and support economic recovery. It includes a Demonstration & Simulation Environment (DSE) in Elgin and Living Labs for innovation collaboration across Moray.

The primary aim of the RCE is to generate inward investment and high-value jobs in the region under the umbrella of the growth deal, in addition, co-creating digital assets will benefit health and social care services and citizens too.

The RCE consists of an infrastructure and 5 living labs (projects) that will deliver assets capable of standalone adoption. The significant impact, however, on health and social care services and the user experience comes from the sum of these parts across the full health and care journey through a unique and innovative integrated approach.

In addition, we have a skills strand aiming to create additional education opportunities to support the transformation of health and social care. This work looks at various aspects of Skills & The Future Workforce through the development and provision of courses and skills, including supporting Living Lab methodology and technical testing.

Impact & value

Progress across Living Lab 1, 2, 2B and 2C includes the development of digital tools that support self-management, weight management and long-term condition care, particularly for type 2 diabetes. This includes Personal Health & Care Record App for remote assessments and lifestyle tracking; alongside new self-help and monitoring solutions created with NHS and community partners. Additional progress includes Heart of Moray wellness platform and new integrations that connect data from smart devices through Community Connections. Living Lab 2B has advanced early-access and preventative support through integration of AskSARA and AI-enabled referral system linked to the Personal Data store. Living Lab 2C has informed national SIGN guidelines through testing Prevent Progress of Diabetes app, with clinical and citizen-facing tools demonstrating improved knowledge, confidence and motivation for lifestyle change.

Living Lab 3 Care in Place progress includes testing digital ‘one-stop-shop’ platforms in Forres and Lossiemouth that reduces duplication, improves communication and allows carers and citizens to share their story once via the Personal Data Store. Early testing is complete, and further integration is underway to improve referral processes and coordination of community care.

Living Lab 4 Smart Housing Smart Comunities is exploring how smart speakers, wearables and sensors can support independent living, especially ahead of the 2027 analogue phone-line switch off. Work includes developing a Smart Home Digital Blueprint with regional partners to support the shift from reactive telecare to proactive Technology Enabled Care.

Living Lab 5 Wellbeing progress includes early development of improved mental wellbeing resources within Community Connections Moray, expanding access to support. Up to 50 staff volunteers are resting the AI-enabled eMoodie platform, designed to provide early intervention support to reduce loneliness and improve resilience across the community.

Progress to date

All living labs focus on further developing, integrating and scaling the digital tools already in progress. Living Lab 1 and 2 will continue refining self-management, weight management and long-term conditions, expanding the use of Personal Health & Care Record App, Heart of Moray platform and connected data tools to support wider adoption across Moray and beyond.

Living Lab 2B will advance the implementation of AskSARA within Community Connections and complete development of the AI-supported referral management system to streamline Occupational Therapy Pathways.

Living Lab 2C will build on testing outcomes of the Prevent Progress of Diabetes app, progressing clinical and citizen-facing tool shaped by national guidelines.

Living Lab 3 will move from initial testing into deeper integration of digital platforms to improve communication and coordination in community care.

Living Lab 4 will continue developing and implementing smart home technologies and with Smart Home Digital Blueprint, preparing for 2027 analogue switch-off and supporting proactive Technology Enabled Care.

Living Lab 5 will continue testing of the eMoodie platform and further develop mental health and wellbeing features within Community Connections Moray.