We must be smarter about how we utilise tech across public sector, says Digital Director

We must be smarter about how we utilise tech across public sector, says Scotland’s Digital Director

We must be “smarter” about how we use existing technologies and infrastructure across the public sector to develop new services, the digital director at the Scottish Government has said. While giving evidence on major ICT projects to Holyrood’s public audit committee, Geoff Huggins said that Covid has highlighted that the government can and should utilise software which is readily available to produce solutions at pace. MORE?>

Online sales tax could be introduced to ‘regenerate’ Scotland’s high streets

Scottish ministers are considering the introduction of an online sales tax to level the retail playing field and save the high street, according to a new action plan to regenerate town centres. Measures to revitalise Scotland’s towns and rejuvenate local economies, published today, say a taxation of digital sales in Scotland will be explored, with the aim of ensuring online businesses contribute to tax revenues alongside bricks and mortar firms. MORE?>

Scotland's criminal records agency to help deliver national digital identity service

The organisation responsible for running criminal record checks on people moving into potentially sensitive job roles is to help deliver Scotland’s national digital identity service. Disclosure Scotland has partnered with the Scottish Government’s digital identity programme, which is developing a platform which seeks to create a safe, secure and easy way for people to access online public services. MORE?>

Scotland appoints US envoys to boost American tech trade

Two California-based digital entrepreneurs have been added to Scotland’s growing network of global trade envoys to promote the transatlantic tech trade. Suneil Mishra and Andy MacMillan join nine others on the?board,?which was set up in 2017 to help identify opportunities in new international markets. MORE?>

New 5G accelerator to bring digital healthcare solutions to the market

An accelerator programme has been launched to help startups harness the power of next generation mobile connectivity – 5G – to make their digital solutions to challenges faced by the healthcare sector market-ready. The ‘shaping digital health & social care’ innovation challenge from The Scotland 5G Centre and its S5GConnect Dumfries hub will support three projects to improve healthcare delivery. MORE?>

New ￡5m fund to boost carbon capture technology in Scotland?

A ￡5 million initiative has been launched by the Scottish Government to boost emerging technologies in carbon capture as the country works towards a legally-binding target of net zero by 2045. Energy secretary Michael Matheson said the fund will help to make sure that Scotland is at the “forefront” of new industrial opportunities when it comes to green innovations such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage deployment. MORE?>

Let us know what you think of our newsletter in the comments below. If you enjoyed it, don't forget to subscribe, drop a 'like' and share with your network. Don't forget also to check out our public sector tech events for 2022 and beyond.