CivTech announces next generation of digital innovators to drive change across the public sector

Today CivTech announced the 12 winning teams that will go forward into the Scottish Government’s CivTech Accelerator programme!

The teams proposed innovative digital solutions to 12 different challenges faced by communities. One of the challenges, sponsored by the Scottish Government's Digital Directorate, is looking at developing AI trust and agency.

The winning team for this challenge is Finnish company Saidot which helps companies to build registers of AI systems that are transparent and accountable.

This year’s programme saw over 130 applications and the Accelerator phase will culminate in a ‘Demo Day’ on 8 February 2022, where the selected teams will demonstrate their solutions to an audience of key stakeholders seeking answers to similar problems.

The challenges & winners

Challenge 1: Decarbonising manufacturing businesses, sponsored by SG Economy

• Winner: iSumio – which created a novel way to measure indirect company emissions, helping policy makers to make more informed decisions.

Challenge 2: Developing AI trust and agency, sponsored by SG Digital

• Winner: Saidot – which helps companies to build registers of artificial intelligence systems that are transparent and accountable.

Challenge 3: Peatland restoration, sponsored by SG Environment and Forestry Directorate

• Winner: Environment Systems in partnership with Tweed Forum and Land Habitat – using satellite data to develop and existing product, they will create a tool for land managers which is rooted in ecology restoration best practice.

Challenge 4: Informed land-use decisions increasing carbon capture, sponsored by Southern Uplands Partnership and Langholm Initiative

• Winner: Ginger Land – which has created a platform which allows multiple activities, such as community engagement and crowdfunding, to take place simultaneously.

Challenge 5: Managing traffic and road infrastructure in rural and remote communities, sponsored by Stirling Council, Forest and Land Scotland, with Censis

• Winner: Digiflec – which uses a combination of sensing technology to create a solution to better manage road infrastructure in rural communities.

Challenge 6: Understanding supply and demand of school age childcare, sponsored by SG Early Learning and Childcare Directorate

• Winner: Flexible Childcare Services Scotland (FCSS) in partnership with Ember Technology – to better understand the supply and demand of school-aged childcare, they have developed Caerus, a nursery management software which offers a clearer picture of capacity gaps.

Challenge 7: Understanding school buildings use, sponsored by Scottish Futures Trust, Midlothian Council with Censis

• Winner: Buro Happold – which has created a first-of-its-kind, data-driven platform which offers real-time insights and predictive modelling of occupancy to improve learning environments across Scotland.

Challenge 8: Managing visitors and communities at visitor hotspots, sponsored by Perth and Kinross Council, Stirling Council, Loch Lomond National Park and others, with Censis

• Winner: Whereverly in partnership with Sensation Systems – to better manage visitors at tourist hotspots, they have combined the Internet of Things and mobile tech to give public sector rangers access to a live map of remote attractions, improving public safety and engagement.

Challenge 9: Helping people manage their care services, sponsored by SG Mental Health and Social Care Directorate

• Winner: Matter of Focus – which has created a cloud-based and mobile-friendly web app which allows care practitioners to speak directly with individuals about the services which best suit their personal care needs.

Challenge 10: Helping trainers assess skills and competence of learners, sponsored by Training Consortium and SOSE, with Censis

• Winner: TPD Development – which has created a virtual reality innovation which simulates the 360 degree care sector experience of training and assessment, helping trainers to asses the skills and competence of learners remotely.

Challenge 11: Best user experience with Citizens Advice network, sponsored by Citizens Advice Scotland

• Winner: SIDE Labs – this challenge will take a 'no-code development' approach, led by SIDE Labs, developing existing platforms Talkie and Twilio as part of a series of CivTech Sprints.

Challenge 12: Making public sector data easy to find, sponsored by SG Digital Directorate

• Winner: Dtime – its solution, Dtechtive, will improve data discovery using natural language which is more straightforward for users, with the aim of becoming fully customisable in the long-term.

You can read more about the project in the insider here.