The Finance and Health Lab

We are taking on a big challenge. How can we innovate finance and health in an ageing society? How can fintech help us all live healthier lives as we get older?

Finance and Health Lab is a cross-sector research and innovation programme dedicated to improving financial wellbeing, resilience, and long-term financial health in Scotland. It brings together financial institutions, fintech companies, academic experts, public sector stakeholders and innovators to collaborate, test new ideas, and develop practical solutions to some of society’s most pressing financial health challenges.

As people live longer and financial systems become more complex, traditional models of savings, pensions, and financial advice are under pressure. The Finance and Health Lab offers a platform to rethink and reimagine how financial services can better support individuals particularly in later life through innovation.

The Lab seeks to bridge the gaps between industry, policy, data and lived experience by creating opportunities for fintech to deliver services that are fairer, more inclusive, and more responsive to real world needs.

In doing so, the Finance and Health Lab helps Scotland’s fintech ecosystem evolve toward purpose driven finance and positions Scotland as a leading international hub for socially minded fintech and financial health innovation.

The Finance and Health Lab is delivered through a structured multi workstream programme combining research, innovation activation, stakeholder engagement and public output. Core components include:

• Innovation Calls: Open challenge calls to fintechs and innovators, inviting proposals that address defined financial health challenges such as later life resilience, inclusive financial tools, or data driven advice.
• Demonstrator and Pilot Activity: Selected ventures will be supported through prototyping, testing and trials in collaboration with industry and public sector partners.
• Research and Policy Work: the Finance and Health Lab commissions actionable research and policy-oriented papers to explore systemic issues around financial health, inclusion, data use and long-term resilience.
• Knowledge Exchange and Engagement: Through webinars, roundtables, events and a national conference, the Finance and Health Lab will share insights, build networks and facilitate collaboration across stakeholders.
• Communications and Thought Leadership: Regular publications, case studies and media work will highlight emerging findings, success stories and policy implications for both the public and industry communities.

By the end of the programme, the Finance and Health Lab aims to deliver:

• New ideas, prototypes and potential fintech solutions focused on financial health and inclusion
• Evidence based insights and policy recommendations that inform industry practices and public policy
• Strengthened collaboration between fintech, academia, industry and government enabling long term systemic change
• Increased awareness and visibility around financial health issues in later life and opportunities for innovation

Concrete impact for people and communities through more inclusive financial products, better advice, enhanced resilience and improved wellbeing

The Finance and Health Lab welcomes participation from:

• Fintech companies and startups building solutions for financial wellbeing, inclusion, later life resilience or data driven financial services
• Financial services organisations interested in co-developing or piloting inclusive services or products
• Academic and research institutions exploring financial health, data ethics, longevity, inclusion or policy design
• Policy makers, public sector bodies, regulators and civic stakeholders focused on financial inclusion, social welfare and long-term resilience
• Anyone interested in combining financial services innovation with public value and social impact

If you are a fintech innovator, financial institution, researcher, policy stakeholder or simply believe in building a fairer financial future, the Finance and Health Lab invites you to engage, collaborate and help shape financial health in Scotland.

Stay tuned for:

• Launch of the innovation call
• Demonstrator and pilot programme details
• Research publication timetable
• Event and conference announcements

Contact us at contact@fintechscotland.com for more information, or to be notified when applications open.