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 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.”
Background
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.
