On Friday the 20th March, the Scottish Government hosted an event at the Edinburgh Futures Institute to launch Scotland’s new AI Strategy. Supported by The Data Lab and Quantum Communications, the event brought together over 180 members of the thriving Scottish AI ecosystem, including universities and colleges, as well as many key decision-makers from Scottish […]
data and AI economy
Converge innovation challenge opens for applications
Converge is on the hunt for the next generation of academic innovators looking to transform their world-class research and innovation into impactful businesses. Applications are now open for the prestigious programme, which combines expert-led business training with a competitive edge. Converge Challenge Sector-specific prizes boosting business There are a range of challenges to apply for, […]
Response to the Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027
The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, welcomes the announcements in the budget on the increase in funding for the college sector and universities, investment in innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship, employability and skills development and a further £125m investment in City Region Deals. Heather Thomson, CEO of The Data Lab, said, “The […]
The Data Lab appoints Nic Granger OBE as governance board chair
Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, The Data Lab, has today announced that Nic Granger OBE will assume the role of chair. Granger joins the centre as it continues to drive innovation, promote collaboration across sectors and industries, support skills development, and champion Scotland’s data and AI ecosystem by fostering community. Having worked internationally and in the UK across various sectors, in her executive role as […]
Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards open with new categories
The 11th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards (SKEA), Scotland’s flagship celebration of business–academic collaboration, launched last week, inviting applications from businesses and academics throughout Scotland. The annual awards, organised by Interface, celebrate the partnerships between business, third and public sector organisations, and colleges and universities. This year introduces two new categories: Trailblazing AI Collaborations and Research and […]
Embracing the economic potential of AI in Scotland
A new programme helping Scottish companies seize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched. Supported by nearly £1 million of Scottish Government funding, it will offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) a range of support – including tailored consultancy services and grants – to introduce or expand the use of AI in order to […]
Whitepaper sets out route to Scotland’s data and AI success
Skills whitepaper launched to help Scotland overcome skills gaps and become a thriving data-powered economy. The Data Lab, Scotland’s data and AI innovation centre, has today launched a new whitepaper, ‘Data and AI Skills in Scotland: Closing the Gap for a Promising Economic Future’. The report outlines research findings and recommendations on closing the data and […]
Scottish firms cut energy bills and emissions in £54 million smart data drive
Manufacturers across Scotland have cut energy costs and emissions by nearly a third through a major programme that helped firms make better use of their data. The Data Lab, Scotland’s centre for data and artificial intelligence, played a key role in delivering the £53.8 million Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH), which supported businesses in adopting […]
The Data Lab seeks new chair
Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, The Data Lab, has today announced that it is seeking a new board chair. The Data Lab is seeking a visionary chair to lead our dynamic and engaged Board in shaping the future of data and AI innovation in Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to help us […]
The Rise of the Data Engineer: Building the Subsea Digital Future
Jason Brown, CEO, Elementz, and Saleh Seyedzadeh, Head of Data, The Data Lab highlight the crucial role of data engineers in subsea digital transformation. In this article, orginally published in OGV Energy, they highlight data engineers’ responsibility in designing scalable data infrastructures to support AI-driven decision-making and efficiency in the energy sector, amidst a growing […]