Tag: latest round of grants

Scottish Government: Improving lives through AI

Funding for artificial intelligence projects

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to be harnessed to develop technologies to address issues such as cancer risk amongst rescue workers.

The latest round of the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme has awarded up to £9 million to 14 companies developing AI products to tackle challenges faced by charities and public sector organisations. CivTech 10 is the first round of the programme to focus on AI.

Products being developed include:

  • a software to help identify toxic contaminants to address the risk of cancer for firefighters.
  • an AI system which can help teachers with administrative tasks.  
  • using drones and an automated mapping system to monitor puffin populations in a less invasive way.
  • an AI support system to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

Previous rounds of CivTech have seen £20 million invested into 90 companies and entrepreneurs since 2016. These include software company Volunteero which developed a mobile app to help charities manage administrative tasks.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland is well-placed to harness the advantages of artificial intelligence with its rich history of innovation and high concentration of world-leading universities and colleges.

“The rapidly growing AI sector offers opportunities for Scotland, from helping to detect health issues such as lung cancer earlier, to enabling businesses to work more efficiently.

“Through CivTech, we are revolutionising how public sector organisations work by collaborating with businesses to develop products which improve lives.”

Rebekah MacLeod, Lead Project Liaison Officer at White Ribbon Scotland, a charity tackling violence against women which uses Volunteero’s app, said: “Working with Volunteero through the CivTech programme has completely changed how we work as a charity.

“The app means we spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time working with men and boys to directly address violence against women and girls.

“This includes encouraging more men and boys to speak out about violence against women and girls.”

CivTech companies have created more than 400 jobs and attracted more than £126 million of private sector investment. Nearly 80% of products developed in past rounds of CivTech are still in use.

Products being developed in CivTech 10 are:

  • Technology developed by Rowden to help firefighters improve their situational awareness in emergency situations.
  • A system to detect and monitor firefighters’ exposure to toxins created by FireHazResearch.
  • Drones and an automated mapping system from EOLAS and The University of Edinburgh to monitor puffin colonies in a less invasive way.
  • Sensors developed by Arctech Innovation to monitor breeding success, seasonal changes and harmful disease in puffins.
  • Technology for public sector organisations to use data securely, developed by Verifoxx.
  • A platform for citizens and policy makers to understand how AI and other emerging technologies could be used in the public sector, developed by CrownShy.
  • A programme created by Talent Engine to provide detailed labour market insights to target skills and development training in Glasgow.
  • An AI tool from Rethink Carbon to document woodland and peatland projects.
  • A new approach to monitoring carbon balances from woodland and peatland projects from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
  • Sylvera are developing advanced remote-sensing capabilities to enhance monitoring of carbon projects.
  • An AI programme to forecast pharmaceutical demand by postcode area to help reduce waste, developed by PharmovoAI.
  • A planning tool created by Looper to help NHS Scotland reduce waste and emissions.
  • An AI system to support teachers with administrative tasks, developed by SupportEd.
  • A software from BobbAI to help entrepreneurs to access business growth resources and support services. 

CivTech 10 Challenges and details of the CivTech process are available online.

Culture & Business Fund Scotland supports creativity and business with funds allocation of over £100,000 

From bringing the festive spirit to Eden Court in Inverness by supporting Sleeping Beauty panto fun, to helping a local business play an integral part in providing shoes for performers at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the latest round of the Culture & Business Fund Scotland has made an incredible difference in supporting meaningful connections between culture organisations and businesses.  

This year, the C&BS Fund, which is managed by the charity Culture & Business Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government, has provided a total of £100,000 to match sponsorship generated through relationships with businesses.

By encouraging business sponsorship through grants, the Fund aims to further develop cross-sector connections, as well as incentivise the creation of new relationships. The Fund has been distributed in varying amounts to 11 creative organisations across Scotland, ranging from grassroots initiatives to established cultural events.  

Those benefitting from the most recent round include Eden Court, which received an award towards their pantomime production, to equal funding provided by Tailormade Moves to the delivery of their panto, Sleeping Beauty.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Festival Fringe partnered with Playbill to support the creation of a new Fringe app, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo matched with Thistle Shoes, which provided shoes for all dancers who performed at the Tattoo in 2023. 

Tommy McCormick, Culture & Business Scotland Programmes Manager said: “The significance of the Fund to Scotland’s culture and business sectors cannot be underestimated.

“With reasons ranging from brand awareness to staff relations, and from corporate social responsibility to ESG targets, there are many opportunities for business organisations to unlock commercial gains through engagement with culture.

“From a culture sector perspective, our recent survey of participating organisations showed that 40% of recipients are relying on the Fund to make their budgets viable, and with money being distributed to organisations large and small across the country, its positive effects are reverberating through Scotland’s communities too.”  

Other successful applications included Journey to the East Productions in Glasgow, who were supported by E.G Business Equipment to deliver their 2023 edition of the Festival. Living Memory Museum in Edinburgh received match funding for The Wee Hub, linked with business partner Ocean Terminal. 

The organisations below also received funding: 

·         Arkbound Foundation in Glasgow, linked to Harrison Brands and Climadapt, awarded for Crowdbound: Phase II. 

·         Deaf Action, Edinburgh, with Sign Live Ltd, for the Edinburgh Deaf Festival 

·         Fringe by the Sea, with Tartan Commercial, awarded for The Lighthouse Stage 

·         Museums and Heritage Scotland, partnered with Ilum Studio for Museum of the Highlands 

·         Scottish Civic Trust, linked with Urban Union and awarded for Doors Open Day 

·         Caledonian Crime Writing Festival, partnered with Glencairn Crystal, awarded for Glencairn Glass Short Story Competition.

 
Head of Fundraising and Development at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Westaly Duignan said: “Funding from Culture & Business Scotland this year allowed us to extend the footprint of our partnership with new sponsor, Playbill, and enhance the experience of our Street Events programme for both audiences and performers.

“The funding helped us to deliver clear signage to, and branding of, the performance spaces on the Mound, in central Edinburgh, adding value to our partnership and supporting audiences to see free shows. A key element of this was the Fringe Taster Stage, a popular area for artists, local community groups and schools to perform at the Fringe. Our thanks to the team at Culture & Business Scotland for their kind support this year”. 

Eden Court Fundraising Manager Aelish O’Rourke said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of Culture & Business Scotland Fund.

“The fund is not only helping us stage a much-loved festive show, it played a key part in also leveraging vital business support by enabling us to nurture and expand a sponsor relationship”.  

Since its inauguration in 2017, the Fund has enabled 169 projects across Scotland to transform their artistic and creative visions into reality.  

The Fund serves Culture & Business Scotland’s commitment to facilitating meaningful connections between the culture and business sectors, creating the possibility for businesses to sponsor creative projects with vision and scope.