Scotland CAN DO: becoming a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation

Ministerial Foreword

by John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for
Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth

Scotland has always been a CAN DO nation and we can be proud of the impact that our people have made, and continue to make, on the shape of the modern world. Today a new spirit of entrepreneurship can be seen throughout Scotland and there is a real desire to effect positive change across all parts of our economy. Often this is through taking a distinctly Scottish approach in recognising the social as well as economic benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation and by working together creatively across the public, private, and third sectors. There is a clear recognition that if we are to achieve sustainable economic growth, and create opportunities for everyone to flourish, then we must work together to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation across Scotland.

This framework highlights the importance and ambition we attach to entrepreneurship and innovation, the values that will inform our work and our future priorities for action. Our commitment was shown in the 2014-15 draft Budget which highlighted additional funding for innovative measures to encourage a new age of entrepreneurship across Scotland.

Just as importantly this framework asks what you can do - as an individual, an entrepreneur or an innovative business - to help create the types of businesses that will have the biggest positive impact on Scotland and on the world.

Our vision is of Scotland as a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation - a CAN DO place for business. We invite all of our enterprising citizens, businesses and organisations to join with us, in a Team Scotland effort, to make that vision a reality.

John Swinney
MSP