For industries

We’re aiming to help organisations across 10 industrial sectors, from fintech and tourism, to healthcare and agriculture. Here’s a snapshot of the potential for each area.

The DDI hubs

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Ten target sectors

Through innovation and collaboration, we’re aiming to help organisations across 10 industrial sectors, from fintech and tourism, to healthcare and agriculture. We want to help you tackle challenges and get better at what you do; improving products and services, and developing new ones.

Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Edinburgh International Data Facility

The Edinburgh International Data Facility (EIDF) is the high-powered analytics and storage service that supports research and data-driven innovation in the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland region and beyond.

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Our expert profiles

Meet our industry experts, who help to create challenge-based collaborations by connecting public, private, and third sector organisations with our data-driven innovation hubs and world-class academic communities.

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FAQs

Why should my organisation care about data-driven innovation?

New capabilities in high-powered data analytics combined with multidisciplinary research can unlock valuable insights for organisations – allowing them to tackle challenges, improve products and services – or develop new ones. Both the Scottish and UK Governments have highlighted the importance of the digital economy in their industrial strategies, and highlight the importance of organisations understanding and tackling the challenges of delivering innovative processes to consumers and citizens.

What benefits could I expect to get from engaging with the DDI initiative?

We’re a network representing the regional capabilities of five innovation hubs across the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, supported by the world-class Edinburgh International Data Facility. A key strength of our network is its ability to create interdisciplinary teams that are tailored to tackle specific industry or social challenges. Through this network, industry partners such as UNICEF and Legal and General are uncovering valuable insights to improve health and social care for vulnerable groups. We’re working with companies such as Wayra (part of Telefonica) to support a cohort of AI and blockchain entrepreneurs and have helped the Robertson Group tap into fresh thinking on how to reduce waste in the construction industry supply chain.

I’ve heard funding is available from the DDI programme. Can my organisation apply for funding if we bring a partnership idea?

The DDI initiative is not a source of funding for external organisations. The initiative facilitates the creation of activities and partnerships between the DDI hubs of the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University and external organisations. DDI activities require contributions from all the partners involved, and can include financial and in-kind contributions, as well as other types of support.

If my organisation has an idea for a DDI activity, how much control will we have over it?

DDI activities are delivered and governed by the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University and are subject to the rules of both universities regarding intellectual property ownership and data privacy. Some DDI activities – such as the UNICEF Data for Children Hub or the Advance Care Research Centre – have been more exploratory than traditional industry-funded research, with partners agreeing a set of target outcomes, a delivery approach, and joint governance structure.

What’s the link between the DDI initiative and the DDI hubs?

The DDI initiative is a network representing the capabilities of five world-class innovation hubs at the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, supported by the Edinburgh International Data Facility – a world-class supercomputing service. The DDI initiative helps to create opportunities for the hubs to deliver activities and outcomes with partners. The DDI initiative also promotes the fantastic work of the hubs, measuring their outcomes and reporting these back to government.

There are other parts of the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University that offer industry engagement or partnerships. Why should my organisation engage with the DDI initiative?

The two universities offer different forms of industrial engagement and partnership. The five DDI hubs and initiative were created on the strength of existing capabilities to help organisations and citizens benefits from innovation in this field. The DDI initiative is a network across the two universities, to link partners who are interested in exploring DDI-themed challenges to the right people in the two universities. A key strength of our network is its ability to create interdisciplinary teams that are tailored to tackle specific industry or social challenges.

I’ve heard the DDI programme is about promoting data skills. How is the programme doing this?

The DDI initiative is helping to promote data and digital talent across the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, and more widely through the skills programmes within the City Region Deal. Support for a cohort of AI and blockchain entrepreneurs through the Wayra Accelerator programme, promoting data skills in City Region schools, and helping students tackle real-world problems using data, are just a few examples of how we’re increasing data talent at different levels.