The Associations team with Dr Poonam Malik
Article published 29/11/2023
Earlier this month (8 November) VisitScotland Business Events hosted 40 senior representatives from 27 global associations for an evening of innovation, collaboration and hospitality at Scotland House in Brussels.
The guests represented a diverse range of sectors including energy, aviation, education, charities and sport among others as well as representatives from Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
The VisitScotland Association Reception is a continuation of the country's bold strategy for engaging with international associations. It showcased the country's knowledge economy, collaborative outlook and history of innovation and invention, as well as its ongoing contributions to modern science, academia and industry.
It also served as a reminder to attendees about the wealth of connections VisitScotland Business Events has with world class researchers and facilities, as well as an opportunity to share its outlook and values.
Renowned Scottish STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) entrepreneur Dr Poonam Malik delivered the keynote address at the reception and shared her insights on the country's groundbreaking industries and pathways for associations to connect. Her invaluable contributions on Scotland's innovation offered a fresh perspective surrounding meetings, dialogues and staying connected in this ever-changing landscape.
Speaking on the event, Dr Malik said: "Scotland is a strategically concentrated innovative country and now is the perfect time to partner, engage, collaborate, host events, generate ideas for research, to do business in, innovate with and invest in. We possess an innovative, business-minded, knowledge economy.
"It was a pleasure to be in Brussels as an ambassador for Scotland and deliver a keynote on behalf of VisitScotland Business Events at its European Headquarters. All of us having the same goal of sharing the best of Scotland and inviting business and associations to consider and invest in Scotland - to bring their science, innovation, research and development association members to Scotland and work with our academic institutions, universities, and innovation centres which are open to engagement."
Also commenting on the event, Fiona MacKinnon, Associations & Sectors at VisitScotland Business Events said: "It was great to be back at Scotland House hosting a reception for our Brussels based Association colleagues, discussing our messaging about why now is the time to engage and work with us in Scotland, to share ideas, connect with new colleagues and to transform the meetings of tomorrow.
"In Scotland associations can connect and engage with world leading institutions, creating lasting value and learning for delegates. We provide the platform for associations to innovate, pioneer and lead and there are fewer greater and more lasting adverts for our country than welcoming 4,000 world leaders to spend a week with us."
To find out more about how VisitScotland Business Events works with associations visit - https://businessevents.visitscotland.com/why-scotland/associations