National Robotarium unveils design of new train cleaning robot

Scientists from the National Robotarium, supported by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, have unveiled the design of a new train cleaning robot to help existing cleaners. The robot, which is being funded by rail research body RSSB, has been designed to increase cleanliness standards on trains nationwide. It will complement humans by cleaning in…

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The National Robotarium partners with Leuchie House to trial assisted living technologies

Specialist technology could help people with disabilities gain greater independence at home.   The National Robotarium, delivered by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, has partnered with Leuchie House to trial technologies that could help people with assisted living needs and those who care for them gain greater independence. One million people in Scotland…

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Cancer-focused enterprises among ventures selected for University entrepreneur incubator programme

photo of the Bayes Centre

Twenty innovative start-ups have been selected for a University of Edinburgh incubator programme aimed at developing and commercialising academic entrepreneurship. The Venture Builder Incubator 2.0, part of the Data-Driven Entrepreneur Programme, is supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service. The incubator is delivered by the Bayes Centre on behalf of the University’s five Data-Driven…

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Institute launched to uncover prevalence of child sexual abuse

Human Dignity Foundation, a private funder focused on children’s rights, is establishing an independent global data institute for child safety at the University of Edinburgh. The institute will gather the most current, reliable and evidence-based data on child sexual exploitation and abuse. It will use insights from the data to inform policy and drive sustainable…

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£9.5m schools project gives pupils a sense of the power of data

A world-leading initiative that brings the latest smart technology into classrooms has been launched to help pupils prepare for a data-driven future. Primary and secondary classes across south-east Scotland will learn how to interpret reams of statistics produced by sensors tracking environmental conditions in their schools. The scheme, backed by the UK and Scottish Governments,…

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Gateway to success

The DDI Skills Gateway was a finalist at this year’s Digital Leaders 100 awards. The Skills Gateway made it into the final three for Digital Skills Initiative of the Year, out of hundreds of entries from across the UK. With over 700 nominations, judges recognised the Skills Gateway‘s innovative and cross-sector approach to improving data…

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Community benefits hub for City Region Deal

Golden Hour on Calton Hill in Edinburgh

A website is being launched to encourage links between good causes and businesses across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Borders. Funded by the £1.3bn Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal, the ESESCommunities.org portal will allow charities in the region to make community benefit requests of businesses in the supply chain of City Deal…

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Blog post: The stories behind the data

Photo of Lucy Saddler

From breeding algorithms for cows to a speech recogniser for spoken Gaelic, Lucy Saddler (pictured) got to grips with the breadth of the DDI programme during her 2021 summer internship. When I saw that the Data Driven Innovation (DDI) initiative were recruiting a communications intern in February 2021, I was intrigued by the sheer scale…

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Local AI Start-up Wins Scottish Enterprise Grant to Test on Supercomputer

Edinburgh-based startup, Data Innovation.AI Ltd have secured a Scottish enterprise SMART grant to test their pioneering bio-safety design tool with the EPCC. The WorkSafeAI tool enables buildings to be designed to prevent the spread of aerosolised infections such as the SARS-COV-2 virus and seasonal flu’s.    Founder and COO Craig Fenton said “Our workplaces play a critical role in infectious disease…

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