• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
The Data Lab

The Data Lab

Pruple button with the word menu
  • About Us
        • About Us

           
          Visit our About Us page

        • Careers
        • Our Team
        • Impact
        • The Scottish AI Alliance
        • Contact us
  • Business
        • For Business

           

          Visit our Business Support page

        • Access Talent
        • Funding and Business Support
        • Partnerships
  • Professionals
        • For Professionals

           

          Visit our Professional Development page

        • Online Courses
        • Data Skills for Work
  • Students
        • For Students

           

          Visit our Students page

        • The Data Lab Academy
        • Student Placements
        • Scholarships
  • Universities and Colleges
        • For Universities and Colleges

           

          Visit our Universities and Colleges page

        • Funding and Support
        • Collaborate and Innovate
        • Academic Projects
  • Community
        • Community

           

          Visit our Community page

        • Online Community
        • News
        • Case Studies
        • DataFest

The Data Lab

About Us

The Data Lab is Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI

At The Data Lab, we believe in a thriving, connected society powered by data and AI – where cross-sector conversations, creativity, and collaboration ignite and sustain the sparks of ground-breaking ideas, products and societal advances.

We’re uniquely positioned to support and incubate responsible innovation in data and AI across the public, private and academic sectors. We work with students, professionals, universities and colleges, business and our wider community to build a stronger and more collaborative economy and future for Scotland and the world.

Heather Thomson, Interim CEO of The Data Lab, reflects on The Data Lab’s impact and our vision for the next 10 years.

It’s our job to help Scotland achieve bigger and better things and to get people from across the globe excited about what is happening here in Scotland.

The Data Lab impact at a glance

Our purpose is to change lives and make Scotland a more productive economy and sustainable society by transforming how we use data and AI. With our extended network of over 1,500 companies, public sector organisations and universities, we work to make Scotland the global leader in data and AI innovation. To do this, we harness opportunities, connect people and ideas, and develop knowledge and expertise.

1,000+

Students supported with sector-specific skills and training

1,500+

Jobs created and safe guarded

£212M

Additional revenue generated

163

Collaborative R&D projects with universities and colleges

500+

MSc and PhD industry placements completed

6,000

Members in our online data and AI community from 80+ countries

What does The Data Lab do?

There can be no doubt, data and AI will play a central part in all of our futures and that of generations to come. The effective use of data and AI can transform careers, businesses and organisations of all types. But it can be challenging to apply the latest developments in data and AI in the real world.

We foster innovation through collaboration, build skills and grow talent, and champion Scotland’s data and AI community. Acting as a catalyst, we use our expertise, network, funding and platforms to change how Scotland, and the world, innovates with data and AI.

We are helping to create a highly skilled workforce and a closely connected business, academic and public sector community. Our aim is to turn Scotland into a thriving, data-driven economy.

Learn more about our impact

The Innovation Centres programme

Founded in 2014, The Data Lab is one of the four innovation centres funded by the Scottish Funding Council through the Innovation Centres programme.

Not sure where to start? Get in touch with The Data Lab.

Join for free today

Innovate • Support • Grow • Respect

Get in touch

t: +44 (0) 131 651 4905

info@thedatalab.com

Follow us on social

  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok

The Data Lab is part of the University of Edinburgh, a charitable body registered in Scotland with registration number SC005336.

  • Contact us
  • Partnerships
  • Website Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2025 The Data Lab