- The Data Lab launches activities and events series in Dundee, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh to mark its 10th anniversary.
- The anniversary celebrations will culminate with the return of DataFest 2025, the eighth year of the international data and AI festival, which has attracted over 6,000 attendees since it launched seven years ago.
The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, is celebrating a significant milestone this year as it approaches its 10th anniversary. Today, The Data Lab launches its anniversary programme of activities and events to mark the occasion and look ahead to the next 10 years of driving innovation, community building and skills in data and AI across Scotland.
Planning for the future
The Data Lab recently transitioned to become part of Scotland’s Innovation Infrastructure, a long-term investment in the national innovation centres programme funded by the Scottish Funding Council. It is one of four SFC-funded Innovation Centres alongside IBioIC, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation and Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, connecting Scotland’s universities and colleges with industry and with public as well as third-sector organisations to create economic and societal benefits.
Anniversary events across Scotland
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, The Data Lab is rolling out a series of events in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and also Edinburgh across October and November. From forensic scientist Professor Niamh Nic Daéid in Dundee to 2024 Iron Viz champion Chris Westlake in Edinburgh, these events will celebrate local industry experts and look ahead to the future of AI and data innovation in areas such as entrepreneurship, journalism, data visualisation, energy and Net Zero.
DataFest returns to its roots
The celebrations will culminate in The Data Lab’s flagship conference, DataFest—the eighth edition of the event—which will be held from May 12th to 13th 2025 in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, going back to where it all began in 2017. An established brand in Scotland and beyond, DataFest is known for drawing global thought leaders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts, the festival has become a must-attend event for anyone interested in data, AI, and digital transformation.
Heather Thomson, Interim Chief Executive of The Data Lab, said:
“Over the past decade, The Data Lab has helped 1,500 organisations harness the power of data and AI to solve real-world challenges, boost business growth, and develop the next generation of data talent. We’re excited to celebrate our achievement with our community through an exciting programme of activities and events over the coming months.
“Looking ahead to the next ten years, we will continue in our role of facilitating connections across tertiary education, industry and the public sector supporting Scotland to become a global leader in data and AI innovation, building the talent pipeline through skills development, to create economic and societal impact.”
The Data Lab Community events have attracted over 2,500 attendees in 2024 so far, with over 150 events organised since launching three years ago. Meanwhile, the international DataFest conference has been attended by over 6,000 delegates since launching seven years ago.
Tickets for The Data Lab’s anniversary events are now live, while tickets for DataFest 2025 go on sale on the 1st of October:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-data-labs-10th-anniversary-3681989