Innovation Stimulation Open Call
The Finance and Health Lab (FHL) is a national programme led by FinTech Scotland, bringing together financial services organisations, fintech innovators, academics and public sector partners to explore how financial wellbeing and health interact and intersect in later life.
Through the Innovation Stimulation Open Call, we are inviting fintechs, startups, and innovators to work on defined challenges that affect financial resilience, financial confidence, and quality of life as people age.
As our population grows older, changes in health, income, care needs and financial complexity increasingly shape people’s wellbeing.
FHL exists to move beyond general discussion and create space for evidence led innovation, collaboration and practical experimentation that can inform future services, models and policy.
In Collaboration with Industry Partners
Participating companies have the opportunity to engage with Sopra Steria, Sword Group and Aegon – Mylo
Challenge Statements
The Innovation Stimulation programme is structured around a set of priority use cases that reflect the most pressing later life financial health challenges. Applicants should align their ideas to one or more of the following areas:
Predictive Financial Vulnerability Insights for Later Life
How might we use health, behavioural and financial data to create early warning insights that help identify when individuals may be entering periods of financial vulnerability due to health changes? We are interested in ideas that explore: Early indicators of financial stress linked to health events; Responsible use of data to anticipate risk and support timely intervention; Models that help providers identify when support may be needed.
Healthy Ageing Scenario Simulation for Financial Planning
How might we create dynamic, personalised scenario planning tools that help individuals and providers model the financial impact of later life health events? This could include: Planning tools that reflect changing health and care needs; Scenario modelling for longevity, income changes or care transitions; Services that support better long term financial decision making
Data Quality and Ethical Data Sharing for Health and Wealth Insights
How might we ensure high quality, permissioned and ethically governed data flows between health, financial and public sector systems to support better later life services? We are particularly interested in: Ethical data governance models; Consent driven data sharing approaches; Improving trust, transparency and data quality
Cross System Care and Financial Navigation for Ageing Populations
How might technology help individuals navigate the fragmented ecosystem of health services, social care, pensions, insurance and benefits as their needs evolve? This may include: Tools that simplify access to multiple systems; Navigation and coordination services; Solutions that reduce complexity and stress
Empowering Later Life Financial Decision Confidence
How might we strengthen financial confidence and decision making for older adults, reducing anxiety and supporting long term wellbeing? We are looking for ideas that: Improve confidence and understanding; Reduce cognitive and emotional burden; Support people through complex or high stakes decisions
Age Friendly FinTech and Inclusive Digital Service Design
How might digital financial services become more accessible, trustworthy and supportive for older adults and those with health-related barriers? This includes: Inclusive and accessible service design; Trust, usability and support considerations; Adapting digital services for later life needs
Application Window
Applications open: 4 February
Applications close: 12 February
Complete this short application form and tell us:
- Which use case or challenge area you are focusing on
- What your solution or concept involves
- Why this issue matters in later life
- What you want to test or learn through the programme
- What support or connections would help you progress
Who Should Apply
We are inviting applications from fintechs, startups, and innovators who are working on solutions relevant to one or more of the use cases above.
You may be:
- An early stage fintech with a defined concept or prototype
- A team exploring new service or data models
- An innovator working across finance, health, data, or care
We are particularly interested in teams that:
- Have a strong understanding of the problem they are tackling
- Are willing to engage with research, policy and industry perspectives
- Want to test assumptions and refine ideas
- Are open to collaboration and learning
What to Expect from FHL
The Innovation Stimulation programme runs alongside the wider FHL and follows a focused structure In this phase, activity will be focussed on February and March 2026:
Phase 1 Explore and Align
Understanding the problem, engaging with research insight and refining focus. In the first week of February we will share with selected participants the partners who are most interested or suited to their solution, what the opportunity for partnership may be, and also the key challenges that need to addressed for any idea to progress (for instance around data sharing, ethics or commercial model).
Phase 2 Shape and Test
Developing and testing solution concepts, exploring feasibility and constraints. In the second week, we will then set-up time for teams to meet and collaborate with the partners live (although primarily remotely) to explore concepts and proposed solutions to challenges that arise.
Phase 3 Validate and Prepare
Refining concepts and preparing for demonstration In the third week, teams can then access two opportunities: 1. Deep dives with experts from the industry partners around key issues such as technical requirements, regulatory constraints or other aspects of the idea; 2. Pitch practice and advice from the Labs team around the Demonstrator Day and the Conference at the end of the process.
Phase 4 Demonstrator Day
Showcasing learning, concepts and prototypes to industry, policy and ecosystem stakeholders. There will then be an opportunity to demonstrate solutions directly with decision makers from the industry partners.
Phase 5 Industry Conference
On 19 March at the Edinburgh Futures Institute there will be a major conference connecting industry, academia and the tech ecosystem across Scotland and beyond. All selected tech teams will be able to showcase their technology and solutions at this event.
Key Dates
Applications open
Applications close
Invitations to participate sent to tech teams and startups
Demonstrator Day
Industry Conference
Not Working in this year’s themes?
If your solution falls outside this year’s themes but you would still like to collaborate with us, please email us to get on our innovation radar.
Any Questions?
If anything is unclear or you have any further questions, please reach out to us (with subject line including ‘Finance and Health Lab’).