By Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
Days 1 & 2
It’s great to be back in the Big Apple for Tartan Week and the energy and appetite for business here is inspiring. The USA is celebrating its 250th year of independence this year as well as hosting many of the World Cup Games including Scotland’s games in Boston and Miami so it’s going to be an especially big year here.
New York has a habit of setting the pace early and the first two days of our Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Moray Chamber of Commerce trade mission have done exactly that.
We kicked off at the Hotel with a briefing session with all of our delegates and there was a strong sense of purpose and excitement in the group.
What’s immediately clear this year is the depth and diversity of Scottish innovation in the room, from advanced mobility and medtech through to digital wellbeing and international education on our trade visit.
There’s a real confidence in how Glasgow & Scotland is showing up on this stage these days.
Our first formal engagement with the New York City Economic Development Corporation gave a valuable insight into how the city actively supports inward investment and scale-ups. The message was clear: New York is open for business and it’s collaborative but it’s also highly competitive. Approximately 20% of the tech companies working with EDC at the moment are UK businesses. For Scottish companies, success here will come from being targeted, well-prepared, and plugged into the right networks early.
EDC are really switched on and there’s a lot of joined up thinking within their team of 600 staff most of whom are involved in commercial property and real estate. Anne-Sophie Mahle give the example of a Korean consortium buying a sizeable property midtown in New York for their own business incubator and accelerator and government work under the same roof.
We were told how the green economy is still the city’s key driver. She also explained that they had 72 Business Improvement Districts across the 5 city boroughs.
EDC operate a super sized accelerator called the International Landing Pad network which is a one stop shop for businesses which have revenue of $ 5 million but they also run an NYC AI Nexus which is an introduction for early stage founders and smaller businesses too . We’re particularly interested in extending opportunities to members so we’ll share the slides soon!
That theme carried through into our session with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. It was exactly 10 years ago that we signed our MOU with the President of the Chamber Jessica Walker so it was so good to meet her and the team again this week. We discussed a lot of the challenges facing smaller businesses but opportunities around the World Cup and met some of their business members including businesses in retail, charities and events. We’re going to arrange a follow up Teams call to see how we can further strengthen the ties between our cities and build on the momentum of the forthcoming new United Airlines route from Glasgow to New York which starts in early May.
Hearing directly from businesses operating in-market brought a practical edge - what it really takes to land, grow and sustain a presence in NYC. The scale is vast, but so too is the opportunity for those who can navigate it effectively.
We also had the opportunity to attend the Scottish North American Business Council event at Edrington’s America’s HQ in midtown close to the distinctive Flatiron District buildings, the venue itself was a reflection of the blend of heritage and modernity that defines New York, an apt setting for discussions around energy transition and future-facing industries.
Bringing together Scottish and North American voices in that environment was really informative and we heard from our own Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren and 2 of our ‘Global Glaswegians’ Lolita Jackson and Ian Houston. We also heard from Ian Maxwell, CEO Scottish Football Association and some moving stories about the grassroots work the team at the SFA are doing with local teams like Pollok United who were voted best grassroots football team in Europe.
Day two built further momentum. The British American Business Council session reinforced the importance of transatlantic connectivity - not just in trade terms - but in relationships. There’s a strong appetite for collaboration, particularly in sectors where Scotland already has global credibility.
What’s been particularly encouraging is how well the Scottish proposition is landing. Whether it’s in life sciences, AI, clean energy or professional services, there is genuine interest and importantly, recognition of Scotland as a serious partner. We’re only two days in, but the foundations are being laid. The focus now is on converting these early engagements into longer-term relationships that deliver real economic impact back home.
There are undoubted uncertainties in the world at the moment with trade tariffs, industrial policy and geopolitical conflicts but our businesses still want to trade in and with the US. They are demonstrating that despite these challenges there remains a very healthy desire to trade with our oldest and most established trading partner.
Day 3
Friday’s programme brought a strong focus on storytelling, influence and the power of networks. The session “From Speyside to Stateside” offered a valuable perspective on how Scottish brands like Walker’s can cut through in the US market. There’s a clear lesson here: success in the States isn’t just about having a great product or service, it’s about how well you can articulate your story, build credibility, and connect it to the needs of the customer. Having strong family values and brand loyalty and fantastic shortbread products helps too. The session was excellent and well hosted by Sarah Medcraf, Shan Saba and the fireside chat was with Joseph Gadeleta who leads the operation in the States. We were also treated to some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline and thanks to Julie Semple for providing the space 40 floors above Grand Central Station at the offices of Clifton Larson Allen.
What continues to stand out is the strength of collaboration within the group itself, connections being made not just internationally, but within the Scottish delegation.
The Scottish / Glasgow / Moray Chambers of Commerce Business Reception at Internova Travel Group on Broadway provided very generously by Jacqueline Dobson was a great way to round off the 3 days of business.
The gathering provided another key moment: bringing together a wide network of partners and stakeholders in a single room creating a platform that few individual organisations could replicate alone. It’s a reminder of the value of collective representation - Scotland showing up not as individual entities, but as a connected, outward-looking business community. It was great to hear short contributions by Jacqueline, Sarah, Charandeep Singh, Mark Boyce representing Scottish Government and I rounded things off at another fabulous space high above the city.
The Tartan Day Parade on Sixth Avenue in the glorious spring sunshine was a standout led by Glasgow based Outlander actor, Sam Heughan. Experiencing it as part of a business delegation adds a different dimension. Weaving culture, heritage and identity, creating a platform that opens doors for trade, investment and international partnerships.
Walking the route down 6th Avenue or the Avenue of Americas, you’re reminded that the Scotland-US relationship runs deep. It’s not just historical, it’s current, active, and full of opportunity. The visibility that Tartan Week generates for Scotland provides a backdrop that strengthens every business conversation we’ve had throughout the week. The Glasgow businesses were proud to fly the flag for Glasgow and Scotland and march with the Lord Provost of Glasgow Dr Jacqueline McLaren and Visit Glasgow, and we received a very warm welcome from the hordes of crowds lining the avenue, their affection for Glasgow obvious!
The informal engagements around the parade - pre- and post-event gatherings - were just as valuable. These moments often provide the space for more candid conversations, where relationships are built and future collaborations begin to take shape.
It was great this year to celebrate the USA’s 250th birthday too and brilliant to see the Scottish Football Association led by Ian Maxwell CEO and the team manager Steve Clarke at so many of the events in preparation for the World Cup in the summer.
As we wrap up our time in New York, the focus now turns to how we carry this momentum forward. The real value of a mission like this isn’t measured in days, it’s measured in what happens next. From initial conversations to tangible outcomes, the work starts now. Next stop: Pittsburgh.
This trade mission is supported by the Scottish Government through the International Trade Partnership Programme through Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
Day 4 (Pittsburgh)
If the New York leg of the trade visit was about pace, positioning and celebrating all things Scottish including our businesses and brands, Pittsburgh has been about depth, collaboration, and what a truly connected innovation ecosystem looks like in practice in a smaller but still mighty city. I was told that the ‘bones of Pittsburgh are Scottish’ with such leading lights as Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish born industrialist who built his steel empire in Pittsburgh plus others including Margaret Fay Shaw, James Gourlay and Brigadier General John Forbes, a Scottish soldier who established Fort Pitt in 1758, renaming the settlement Pittsburgh. The love for Glasgow goes back a long way in Pittsburgh.
Our Global Glaswegian Neil Owen put together a brilliantly packed 2 day programme and from the outset it was clear this is a city that shares many similarities with Glasgow and it has deliberately reinvented itself from its days as the steel and heavy industry capital of the USA. Today, Pittsburgh is a global benchmark for how to transition into a knowledge-led, innovation-driven economy - and importantly, how to do that in a way that brings institutions, industry and government into genuine alignment.
Our first day centred around the Oakland area, home to two of the most influential academic institutions in the United States. Beginning at the University of Pittsburgh, the setting itself, the Cathedral of Learning, was a reminder of the city’s deep academic heritage. This astonishing standout 42 storey building is known as the ‘world’s tallest schoolhouse’. It reaches 535 feet and was constructed between 1926 and 1938 in a Gothic style, and signifies that education never ends. The tower houses 29 ‘Nationality Rooms’ including the Scottish Nationality Room which bears tribute to creativity, ancient clans, education and the nobility of freedom with a portrait of Scotland’s immortal poet, Robert Burns, dominating the overmantel. Bay windows emblazoned with stained glass coats of arms represent the Universities of Glasgow, St Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
But the discussion quickly moved to the future: how universities are acting as anchors within wider innovation ecosystems, connecting research, commercialisation and community impact. The roundtable format allowed for open, practical dialogue on where collaboration between Scotland and Pittsburgh could be accelerated.
That theme carried seamlessly into Carnegie Mellon University where we were met warmly by James H Garrett Jr, the Provost and Chief Academic Officer, and Keith Webster, the Scots-born Dean of University Libraries at CMU, one of the most prestigious universities in the US. CMU’s global reputation in robotics, AI and advanced technologies is well established, but what stood out was the accessibility of that expertise - how it is structured to engage with partners, support industry, and translate research into real-world application. The visit to the Posner Centre reinforced the importance of storytelling and heritage alongside innovation and understanding. We even got a chance to visit some historic and rare items including a first edition of 2 volumes of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations which was so apt given that we had Kenny Logue from the Adam Smith Business School at University of Glasgow on the mission, plus the first official printing of the US Bill of Rights and an original of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’, where it takes on additional relevance here in the Posner Centre as it is shelved alongside works by Alan Turing and other pioneers of modern artificial intelligence.
The afternoon shifted to the cultural and civic fabric of the city. A visit to the Warhol Museum – another Carnegie funded project - provided a different and colourful lens on Pittsburgh’s identity - one that blends creativity, individuality and global cultural influence. That was followed by engagement with the Mayor’s Office and a wider discussion with Dan Gilman, the Chief of Staff for Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor on the city’s future direction with the alignment between public leadership and economic strategy here which is striking. There is clarity, consistency and a shared sense of purpose, and a lot of work going on to improve infrastructure and public realm work; the city is gearing up for hundreds of thousands of visitors in a week's time for the massive NFL Draft event, which is going to put the city on the global stage.
And then, in true Pittsburgh fashion, the day rounded off with an invite as guests to a ball game at PNC Park between The Pittsburgh Pirates and The Washington Nationals. It might seem like a step away from business, but these moments matter. Shared experiences - whether in a boardroom or a ballpark - are where relationships are often cemented. We seemed to be a lucky charm as the Pirates won convincingly which hasn’t happened so often apparently recently, and they literally knocked it out the park!
Day two brought that ecosystem into even sharper focus. At Hazelwood Green, we saw what large-scale, long-term regeneration looks like framed by the steel structure from a former steel mill when it is underpinned by vision and collaboration. The scale of the site is impressive, but more so is the intent behind it, creating a space where advanced manufacturing, robotics, life sciences and entrepreneurship co-exist and interact.
Sessions with RIDC and the ARM Institute highlighted how seriously Pittsburgh is taking the future of manufacturing, particularly the role of robotics and AI in reshaping industry. This isn’t theoretical; it’s being deployed, tested and scaled in real time.
The visit to the Roundhouse and the wider Hazelwood campus demonstrated how physical spaces can be designed to foster collaboration - bringing startups, researchers and established organisations together in a way that accelerates innovation. We closed the programme in Robotics Row, where the density of activity in AI, robotics and advanced engineering is remarkable. What stands out here is not just the concentration of companies, but the connectivity between them, supported by organisations like the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and Innovation Works.
Across both days, the consistent takeaway is this: Pittsburgh has built an ecosystem, not just a collection of assets. There are clear parallels for Glasgow, particularly in how we connect our universities, industry strengths and public sector leadership. The opportunity now is to translate these insights into tangible partnerships and collaborations that benefit both sides, and we’re already working on some practical next steps and follow ups with partners on both sides of the Atlantic to support our members and champion Glasgow. It’s been a truly inspiring Tartan Week I think for us all and it’s time to build action and outputs on to the momentum we’ve generated.
