Welcome to the weekly Futurescot Newsletter
Keeping you up-to-date with news and analysis across the public technology and innovation sector.
In the news this week, a patient's lung cancer was caught early in Glasgow thanks to AI software. Diane McCallum, 60, said: "Who knows how it might have turned out without this AI.”
Diane McCallum, 60, was referred for a chest X-ray at New Stobhill Hospital by her GP in April this year after she had been struggling with a long-term, persistent cough. MORE ?
Read the rest of our tech stories from the week. Don't forget to get in touch with your stories at [email protected] or DM @futurescot_news, and please share with your colleagues!
?HEALTH
New sensors to aid blood clots
Edinburgh scientists have developed a low-cost, flexible device that can help prevent blood clots for patients after an operation. MORE ?
Biometric safe to guard access to hospital pharmacy?
A biometric safe has been installed at Forth Valley Royal Hospital to maintain access to controlled prescription drugs in a ‘Scottish first’. The medicines dispensing facility will scan thumbprints and replaces an ageing dual lock and manual recording system. The state-of-the-art safe also electronically tracks and monitors the use and replenishment of controlled drugs within the pharmacy.?MORE ?
From backlogs to better care: Red Star’s ADHD Platform
Scotland is facing an unprecedented rise in mental health challenges, with ADHD emerging as a significant concern. As highlighted in the NAIT Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways report, from 2020 to 2023, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde saw a staggering 1,000% increase in ADHD assessment referrals, while NHS Fife experienced a 500% surge from 2012 to 2022. [Partner Content].?MORE ??
How tech can prompt medical insights
Digital voice recording and transcription technologies are advancing at a rapid rate. Services that can accurately record voice conversations – whether in person, phone or internet enabled – have improved from low levels of accuracy just a few years ago, to well over 80 per cent now. Using conversational AI, the systems are now in widespread use across industry sectors. [Partner Content].?MORE ?
NET ZERO
New ￡5.5 million manufacturing centre to stop landfill waste
A new ￡5.5 million manufacturing centre in Glasgow is to play a key role in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions. The ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC) will explore how components such as aeroplane structures, energy systems and industrial equipment can be reused or remade into other products at the end of their life cycle, rather than sending them to landfill.?MORE ?
SERVICE DESIGN
Seeing the human face of an organisation
Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) partnered with Service Design Academy (SDA) to build service design capability to support the “Future Proofing” transformation programme. A learning pathway supported the development of live elements of the programme as project managers completed a range of practical service design courses. [Partner Content].?MORE ?
CYBER
Council chief thanks staff a year on from cyberattack
The boss of one of Scotland’s most remote local authorities has praised staff a year from a cyberattack.
Malcolm Burr, chief executive of Western Isles Council, thanked employees for their resilience on the first anniversary of a cyberattack that downed systems in November 2023.?MORE ?
CONNECTIVITY
Drinking water pipes used to deliver broadband to remote Orkney community
Drinking water pipes have been used to deliver high speed broadband to a remote community in Orkney. Connectivity specialist CloudNet used the community-owned water authority’s existing infrastructure as a more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional cable laying.?MORE ?
?EDUCATION
e-Sgoil's 'significant' role in pandemic
A remote learning platform set up to provide online schooling to pupils in the Western Isles ended up playing a ‘significant’ role in Scotland’s national Covid response.
?The e-Sgoil platform, set up in 2016 to plug teaching gaps, scaled up nationally during the pandemic.MORE ?
BRIEFINGS?
Elementz partners with The Data Lab to advance a data-driven future for Aberdeen
There is “a strong appetite for artificial intelligence in Scottish education”, new research into the views and attitudes of teachers and pupils finds. It is calling for “AI-driven personalised learning systems” - or AI learning assistants - to be piloted in schools.?MORE ?
E-Commerce & Digital Trade Symposium: Share Your Insights
The UK could have ￡9.3 billion in extra international sales if companies could take advantage of the growth potential in eCommerce— Scottish companies could be missing out on significant new sales opportunities - this survey aims to help identify these opportunities.?MORE ?
Scotland’s Digital Office highlights tabletop cyber security exercises
Scotland’s Digital Office for local government has said it is focusing on providing strategic tabletop exercises to strengthen cyber security among the country’s local authorities.?
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PUBLIC SECTOR IT CONTRACTS
Perth & Kinross Council award ￡2.7 million contract for HR and payroll system
Perth & Kinross Council has awarded a ￡2.7 million contract for an integrated Human Resources and Payroll System and associated services to Bristol-based Zellis UK Ltd.?MORE ?
Scottish Borders Council awards ￡300,000 asset management and tracking software solution
Scottish Borders Council has awarded a ￡300,000 asset management and tracking software solution contract to Brightly Software of Chatham, Kent.?MORE ?
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