Scottish healthtech firm Canon Medical Research Europe has been awarded £3.6 million from Scottish Enterprise towards a £14 million project using AI for faster data analysis, with the aim of improving medical scans for both patients and health workers.

With the funding, the Edinburgh-based medical R&D firm plans to develop AI smart solutions to automate routine tasks that could help speed up patient scanning, and allow consultants to make quicker and more informed decisions for patients, such as those receiving cancer treatment. 

The latest research project builds on the company’s mission to revolutionise healthcare through advanced medical imaging, with the firm’s research looking at the use of AI and machine learning in the development of next-gen clinical decision support algorithms.

“We have a strong focus on AI and automation with the goal of helping clinicians to diagnose and treat more patients,” said Dr Ken Sutherland, president of Canon Medical Research Europe.

“It makes me very proud to think that the innovation we create here is Scotland can benefit the people of Scotland and, through our parent company, the rest of the world.”

Originating as Voxar, a spin-out from Edinburgh University in 1994, the company was acquired by Canon in 2016. It has since become known as a centre of expertise in the use of AI for medical imaging in Scotland, counting a team of over 100 scientists, engineers and clinical experts.

The company has gone on to develop novel imaging solutions, and has been involved in initiatives such as the Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (ICAIRD), a collaboration between companies, universities and the NHS.  

A subsidiary of Canon Inc, headquartered in Japan, staff from the company’s Edinburgh site are part of a trade delegation of Scottish healthtech companies heading out to Japan Expo’s Digital Health and Life Sciences Activation taking place this month, which will act as a showcase for Scottish medical innovation across areas like robotics, AI and industrial healthtech.

Recommended reading

• Work Under Way for Scotland’s First ‘Fully Digital Hospital’
• How Much Did UK HealthTechs Raise Last Year?
• Health Tech Leads UK VC Investment in 2025 Q1

Announcing the new funding alongside Dr Sutherland, Scottish health secretary Neil Gray said: “Scotland has a long-standing reputation for innovation in health and life sciences, and Canon Medical Research Europe exemplifies that strength. 

“This investment in AI technology has the potential to transform the way we deliver healthcare by speeding up diagnosis, supporting our clinicians, and ultimately improving outcomes for patients.

“I’m proud to see Scottish expertise leading on such cutting-edge developments and look forward to showcasing this innovation on the world stage at Expo 2025 in Japan.”