£9m investment to drive research and innovation for Scotland’s creative industries

Film crew setting up a shot

A new £9m virtual production studio will drive research, innovation and economic growth in Scotland’s screen, games, immersive and performance industries. Abertay University launched the CoSTAR Realtime Lab at Water’s Edge, Dundee on Tuesday 18 February marking the start of operations for a major infrastructure project that will provide a significant boost to Scotland’s screen…

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DDI Annual Review

Cover of the 23-24 DDI annual review

The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University’s Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) initiative has published its latest Annual Review, showcasing achievements from the academic year 2023-24. Twenty in depth case studies feature in the review, covering start-ups and spin-outs, research, and partnerships delivering positive impacts for a range of industry sectors. The DDI initiative launched in 2018…

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Futures Institute launches Compassion in Financial Services Hub

Edinburgh Futures Institute

Edinburgh Futures Institute has announced the launch of the Compassion in Financial Services Hub. The Compassion in Financial Services Hub aims to bring together the financial services industry, policymakers, academia, communities, and civil society with the aim of creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate financial system. The hub seeks to explore pathways to operationalise…

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Employment growth continues for Fintech Scotland cluster

Cybersecurity analytics office

The FinTech Scotland Cluster recorded an 8% year-on-year employment growth in 2024 bringing the total number of people working in fintech to over 11,300. The continued economic contribution by the cluster comes as Fintech Scotland reaches its seventh anniversary since formation. This growth underlines the significant contribution fintech will make in delivering the UK Government…

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The National Robotarium launches ‘Robotics Readiness’ programme for industry

picture of National Robotarium

The UK’s leading centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, The National Robotarium, has launched a free professional development programme for businesses looking to adopt robotic technologies into their operations. The Robotics Readiness Workshops, starting on 27 February and running throughout 2025, will offer industry leaders – from SMEs to global corporations – practical tips and…

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City Region universities and colleges back plans for local economic growth

Ellen Munro, Head of Integrated Employer Engagement, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, and Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh

Higher and further education institutions across Edinburgh and South East Scotland have signed a pledge to help build community wealth. The pledge commits each institution to take action and make decisions that support local economic growth and sustainable development. As Chair of Edinburgh and South East Scotland’s Higher Education/Further Education Strategy Group, University of Edinburgh’s…

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Childlight uncovers Scottish online abuse numbers

Photo of Prof Debi Fry from Childlight

Around 150,000 children in Scotland have been subjected to at least one form of online sexual abuse in the past year, according to new estimates by the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute. Amounting to an average of over 400 Scottish cases every day, the figures are more than 70 times higher than the number of…

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Childlight push for action at global summit

Photo showing the Childlight team in Bogota (left to right): Prof Xiangming Fang, Prof Deborah Fry, Dr Bernadette Madrid, Jason Allardyce

Childlight has urged governments to act to protect children from a global pandemic of sexual exploitation and abuse as ministers from around the world gathered at a major summit in November. The Edinburgh University-based team were at the first Global Ministerial Conference on ending violence against children, in Bogotá. Discussions were informed by Childlight data…

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Bayes Centre and Leidos Announce Strategic Partnership

Picture of the exterior of the bayes centre

The Bayes Centre has announced a new strategic collaboration with Leidos, a global leader in science and technology solutions, focused on advancing AI and data science applications. The partnership will leverage the Bayes Centre’s expertise as an innovation hub to drive research addressing critical challenges across environmental, civil, national security and healthcare. The collaboration signifies…

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