Personnel boost for Digital Directorate

Former Skyscanner technology chief joins Scottish Government’s digital team

Skyscanner’s former technology chief is joining the Scottish Government’s digital team after a stint working for the NHS. Alistair Hann, former chief technology officer for the online travel search giant, is joining the Digital Directorate as CTO, as government strengthens its in-house digital capabilities. Hann joins the directorate on a 23-month secondment from his current role at NHS Education for Scotland’s NES Digital Service, which was?established in 2018 to deliver the National Digital Platform, a?central part of Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy. MORE

‘Women – together we will change the dynamic in tech’

I was inspired to start a career in technology when personal computers were in their infancy and the internet decades away.?My childhood dream of becoming a scientist was shaped by moon landings mixed up with some classic sci-fi in ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’.?A new world of technology had arrived.?It was a time that people like me, from a working class background, started to believe they could achieve anything through hard work. Discrimination was being challenged like never before, writes Anne Widdop, founding director of The VR Hive and former director of IBM Global Services, as part of Futurescot's new #WomenLead series. MORE

Scottish pupils to learn about dangers of biased algorithms

A new learning resource will teach Scottish pupils about the dangers of biased computer algorithms – equipping them with the skills needed to spot and tackle inequalities such as racism, sexism and ageism. The ‘Ethics in Tech’ lesson content is being created by Digital Skills Education, which develops and delivers digital skills projects across Scotland and internationally. MORE

Scotland’s life sciences sector ‘biggest destination’ for tech investment

Scotland’s life sciences sector became the “biggest destination” for tech investment thanks to a boom in healthcare innovation during the pandemic, according to new analysis.?The government-owned British Business Bank found that investment in Scotland’s smaller life sciences companies reached ￡61 million during the first nine months of 2021 – 42 per cent higher than the figure for the whole of 2020 (￡43 million). MORE

‘World-first’ app-based broadband provider to launch in Scotland

A “world-first” app-based broadband provider is set to launch in Scotland following a ￡660,000 fundraising round backed by leading industry players. New Glasgow-based connectivity startup Brillband, which is set to create 20 jobs, will enable users to run their entire broadband service from their mobile phone or tablet device. MORE

‘Cobots’ to bring a helping hand to firms in Lanarkshire

Collaborative robots – or ‘cobots’ – will give local firms an insight into how they can be deployed in a range of workplace scenarios in Lanarkshire from next week. A series of demonstrations of the functionality of potential squads of mechanised little helpers will begin at the region’s centre for manufacturing innovation and innovation. MORE

Fintech Scotland partners with retirement savings firm to drive innovation

FinTech Scotland is helping a UK long term savings and retirement business to launch a programme aimed at harnessing the latest financial technology innovations to support its customers. In collaboration with the cluster body for Scotland’s financial technology firms, Phoenix Group will invite fintech enterprises and entrepreneurs to explore partnership opportunities through its new Innovation Forum. MORE

TECH BRIEFING

Unlocking the value of public sector data for public benefit

The use of personal data and data sharing is a priority for the Scottish Government, but the public have concerns about privacy and technology misuse, the?chair of the Independent Expert Group for Unlocking the Value of Public Data has said. The group, whose aims are to advise Scottish ministers on how data can be used by the private sector, met at the end of March for the first of its new series of monthly meetings.?MORE??

Kate Forbes visits Nordic nations on economic fact finding mission

Economy secretary Kate Forbes has returned to Scotland after visiting Finland and Denmark on a fact finding mission to support the delivery of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. As a small nation with "limited resources and powers", there is much Scotland can learn from its independent Nordic neighbours, Ms Forbes wrote in a blog post. She said that discussions with politicians, public sector agencies, leading businesses and entrepreneurs, have resulted in "shared learning for the delivery of the five key themes of Scotland’s economic transformation strategy".?MORE?

Housing Association raises questions over MP's Passivhaus bill??

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) recently met with Alex Rowley, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife, to discuss his proposed bill requiring all new homes to be built to the internationally recognised Passivhaus standard. The organisation suggested it would be important to consult both tenants and social housing providers and offered to help arrange contact with their members "if it would be useful". Passivhaus is a quality assured standard and methodology for low energy building, which can help create buildings which use around 75% less energy than standard practice for UK new build.?MORE?

CONTRACT SHORTS

Scottish Government boosts cloud platforms with new contract?

The Scottish Government has awarded a ￡623,040 contract to business technology consultant BJSS Ltd for the provision of cloud engineering services. Ministers are seeking support for their current and future cloud platforms to enable delivery and operation support teams to build modern new applications by accelerating development and delivery processes.?MORE?

Transport Scotland to support and develop website?

Transport Scotland has awarded a ￡208, 765 contract to Edinburgh-based digital agency Storm ID to support, develop and maintain its website.?MORE?

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