Guest blog by Abel Aboh, Board Member, The Data Lab Scotland Did you know that the iconic “Thin White Duke” persona of David Bowie was created by a Black woman? Her name was Ola Hudson, an extraordinary costume designer who worked with the Pointer Sisters, John Lennon, and David Bowie himself. Hudson’s creative genius shaped […]
From Data to Diagnosis: How AI Is Revolutionising Healthcare
Healthcare systems are facing unprecedented pressures, with demand outpacing resources and services struggling to keep up. In Scotland alone, Public Health Scotland estimates that the NHS could be managing around 1,300 additional unplanned hospital admissions every week, largely driven by an ageing population. Cancer treatment waiting times are now the worst on record, with a third of patients with […]
From Data to Decisions: Building Trustworthy AI in Financial Services
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from David Bull, Senior Consultant at Talan. With over 15 years of experience across Retail, Commercial, and Investment Banking, as well as industries including Transport and Renewable Energy, David has led projects spanning data analytics, regulatory change, and remediation. Drawing on his expertise in data governance […]
Beyond the AI Hype: Scaling Financial Intelligence That Delivers
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from Simon Axon, Global Financial Services Strategist at Teradata. Simon explores the challenges financial institutions face in scaling AI beyond proof-of-concept. He examines how banks can move from traditional data management to real-time, signal-oriented AI applications that support fraud prevention, personalisation, risk management, and regulatory compliance. […]
Smart, Sustainable and Safe: How Data & AI Are Transforming Housing
Across the UK, the housing sector stands at the crossroads of three urgent challenges: decarbonisation, demographic change, and deteriorating infrastructure. Meeting these demands requires more than traditional approaches – it calls for smarter, data-driven solutions. From improving energy efficiency and supporting healthy ageing to delivering faster, predictive repairs, data and AI are reshaping what homes […]
Data, AI, and the Climate Crisis: Powering Sustainable Change Responsibly
Data and AI are unlocking powerful tools to fight the climate crisis—helping organisations use energy smarter, grow food more sustainably, and cut emissions. But, with rising environmental costs and risks of deepening inequality, responsible innovation is essential. Read on to explore how these technologies are being harnessed for real, lasting impact. From record-breaking droughts to […]
Response to the UK Government’s multi-year spending plans
The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, welcomes the UK Government’s spending review announcements and is pleased to see the commitment and approach towards driving economic growth through investment in innovation, research and digital skills. An increase to R&D funding to £22 billion per year by 2029-30, alongside £2 billion for the AI […]
Mapping the Future: The Role of Geospatial Data in Scotland’s Tech Ecosystem
Geospatial data is becoming an invisible yet vital part of our daily lives, shaping how we navigate cities, manage properties, and tackle everything from climate change to urban planning. At its core, geospatial data is information connected to a place, whether tracking how many people move through a city, mapping whether flooding might happen, or […]
How AI Makes Finding Safe Medicines Faster
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from Dr. Angelo Pugliese, Associate Director of In Silico Discovery at BioAscent. As part of Life Sciences Month at The Data Lab, Dr. Pugliese explores the critical role Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing in transforming drug discovery. The Challenge of Developing New Medicines Bringing a new […]
The Future of Drug Development: How AI and Data are Revolutionising the Pharmaceutical Industry
We’re thrilled to share insights from Dr. Zahra Rattray, Senior Lecturer in Translational Pharmaceutics at the University of Strathclyde. In this guest blog, Dr. Rattray explores how AI and big data are transforming the pharmaceutical industry, speeding up drug discovery, and enabling personalised treatments. From improving preclinical development to enhancing clinical trials, AI is paving […]