SCDI was created in 1931, and today is supported by around 1200 members across Scotland's manufacturing and service sectors, universities and colleges, local government and enterprise networks, trade associations and professional bodies, arts organisations, churches and trade unions.

As an entirely independent organisation, SCDI's membership network seeks to strengthen Scotland's eceonomic competitiveness and sustainable prosperity by influencing government policy at all levels - whether in Scotland or the UK, the European Union or globally.