Impact
The Data Lab’s impact
As Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, we’re uniquely positioned to support and incubate responsible innovation in data and AI across the public, private and academic sectors
At The Data Lab our vision is to create the world’s most impactful data and AI community; enabling Scotland to become a global leader in the application of data and AI innovation and skills development that benefits our economy and society. We add value to relationships, facilitate engagement and investment, and optimise impact.
Our impact report is an overview of outcomes across our data and AI community, projects, skills programme, partnerships and events since our inception in 2014.
TheDataLab_Booklet_Digital.pdf by TangentCheck out our case studies below to further explore The Data Lab’s impact to date.
Video case studies
We spoke to a variety of organisations and people we have worked with to ask for their thoughts on the impact of The Data Lab.
Case studies:
This is just a sample of some of our case studies, demonstrating the breadth and variety of the projects The Data Lab has worked on. Our data and AI projects include a range of sectors from healthcare to manufacturing. We have worked with small companies, large organisations, public sector bodies and individuals.
Blackwood Homes: Smart independent living
Blackwood Homes partnered with The Data Lab to build homes and communities, enabling vulnerable and frail individuals
to live more independently using cutting-edge assisted technologies.
AICE: Innovation in early bowel cancer detection
An international collaboration project between The Data Lab and partners is using AI to help clinicians to spot the early warning signs of bowel cancer to save lives and reduce pressures on the NHS.
Trade in Space: Monitoring supply chains with satellite data
Trade in Space makes global trade in agricultural commodities more ethical, sustainable and accessible. We spoke with Robin Sampson, Founding Director, about the impact that The Data Lab has had for them.
TVSquared: Recruiting talent following MSc placement
TVSquared measures the effectiveness of TV and digital advertising on a global scale. They first participated in MSc Placement Programme in 2019, bringing in two students. The organisation is currently reviewing internal needs to welcome further students in the near future.
NatWest: Unlocking insights and value from MSc placement students
NatWest Group is the largest business and commercial bank in the UK, with a leading
retail business. NatWest unlocked insights from a new and highly skilled, junior talent pool from the MSc students in The Data Lab’s Placement Programme.
SMDH: Enhancing productivity in UK manufacturing
The Data Lab partnered with 11 other organisations to create the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH), a £53.8m innovation hub to benefit the UK manufacturing sector.
DataKirk: Upskilling minority groups in data
DataKirk aims to close the racial data divide and increase the representation of disadvantaged groups in the data
economy. We spoke with their founder about how The Data Lab has supported them.
Grand Bequest: Saving Scotland’s history with data
Grand Bequest aims to save vacant buildings and put them back into use. We spoke with Katherine Gunderson, Founder and CEO about the difference that The Data Lab has made for them.
PHS: MSc success story with Dr. Polack, Information Analyst
Dr Natalie Polack joined The Data Lab MSc Programme in 2017, undertaking her course
at Stirling University on a part-time basis. This allowed her to balance studying with
parenting, and to navigate the pressures that come with completely changing the course
of your career.