IRES Programme Annual Report - Video

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The Integrated Employability & Skills (IRES) Programme has launched its annual report, highlighting some of the stories and impacts that have been made over the last twelve months. The report is in video format and captures how the seven projects have contributed to key achievements, and demonstrates how innovative and collaborative partnerships have benefitted those who live and work in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region.

Watch the video below:

Transport Barrier Survey Baseline Report

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A regional Transport Barrier Survey Baseline Report [PDF 3.07MB] has been published, by the City Region Deal’s Workforce Mobility project, which is part of the Integrated Regional Employability and Skills (IRES) programme.

The objective of the Workforce Mobility project is to identify and support sustainable long-term solutions, influence policy and behaviour change to enable the reduction of transport barriers to employment, training and education across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region.

The report provides an evidence base to better understand the location and quantum of transport and digital barriers people are experiencing, which validates anecdotal evidence and daily experiences.  

The data provided in this report will shape the direction of the Workforce Mobility Project, but it can also be used by partners across the region to help inform decision making, policy, strategy and investment to improve transport and digital solutions across the region.

UK’s National Robotarium opens its doors with global collaboration announcement

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The UK’s National Robotarium, which officially opened on Wednesday 28 September 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland, has announced a major applied engineering and research collaboration with multi-billion dollar company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

The pioneering £22.4 million centre for robotics and artificial intelligence is the largest and most advanced of its kind in the UK. The facility will collaborate with TCS on applied engineering and joint research across multiple disciplines including soft robotics, field robotics, co-bot and tele-operations. Significantly, the agreement also covers areas of urgent societal need including social and geriatric care, a sector in which the National Robotarium is already well-known.

Part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has partnered with many of the world’s largest businesses for over 50 years to help deliver transformative projects. Operating in 55 countries, TCS generated consolidated revenues of over 25 billion USD in the fiscal year to end March 2022. TCS Research has a dedicated robotics unit that works with various industry segments.

Utilising expertise from both Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, TCS Research will collaborate with the world-leading National Robotarium to create innovative solutions to global challenges using cutting-edge robotics and AI research, product design and new technology creation.

The agreement with the National Robotarium will build on and support a wider partnership between Heriot-Watt University and TCS which will additionally include education, information technology and innovation developments.

Commenting on the announcement during the opening ceremony of the facility, Stewart Miller, CEO of the National Robotarium, said: “This exciting collaboration is a fitting milestone to announce during the official opening ceremony of the National Robotarium. The partnership will enable TCS and the National Robotarium to combine our vast combined experience and expertise, elevating the robotics and artificial intelligence offering of both organisations as a result. 

“Together we will deliver combined applied solutions across a range of challenges informed by TCS’ clients, utilising the unique facilities of our new building and adopting an enhanced approach which aims to de-risk and speed up adoption in the market. We will shortly announce a joint programme of focused research, which will outline some of the future technologies required in the field of robotics and AI.

“This announcement is the first of many for the National Robotarium as we ramp up our global collaborative activities. Britain has a long and rich heritage of delivering cutting-edge innovation on the world stage. The opening of this dedicated, state-of-the-art facility is another important milestone in that story and one which I believe demonstrates Scotland and the UK’s role at the forefront of global developments in AI and robotics.”

Based at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, the purpose-built National Robotarium facility provides a catalyst for entrepreneurship, bringing together academics and companies ranging in size from global businesses to innovative startups. It is expected to deliver sustainable economic benefit to Edinburgh, the UK and beyond.

The National Robotarium is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government. The initiative aims to turn Edinburgh into the data capital of Europe and is part of the wider £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal.

K. Ananth Krishnan, Chief Technology Officer of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),  commented: “TCS is delighted to announce this crucial strategic partnership with The National Robotarium. As part of this agreement, we will leverage the TCS Pace™ philosophy and ecosystem to accelerate industrial collaboration and increase the adoption of AI and robotics solutions that can help resolve some of the most important social issues facing the world today. We are truly excited to start working with The National Robotarium and achieving our shared goal of empowering people’s lives with innovative technology.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid said: "This collaboration will help ensure the UK continues to be a trailblazer in meeting global challenges through AI and cutting edge robotics. The National Robotarium - backed by £21 million UK Government funding - showcases the exceptional developments Scotland is making in pioneering research and technology, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators and bringing jobs and prosperity. More than £2 billion is being invested by the UK Government directly in Scotland to level up communities."

Scottish Government Business Minister Ivan McKee said: “I welcome this major international engineering and research collaboration between the National Robotarium and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Building on research strengths of Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, the partnership between the National Robotarium and TCS, a leading investor in Scotland with whom the Scottish Government has regular engagement, will be key to developing robotics and artificial intelligence solutions. This is particularly significant for improving social and geriatric care in Scotland, alongside wider innovations.

“The National Robotarium will be a major asset in maximising Scottish and UK strengths in robotics and artificial intelligence and in accelerating adoption of technologies that can transform Scotland’s economy and society.

“That is why the Scottish Government has invested £1.4 million in the National Robotarium through the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal. It can help embed an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset while delivering objectives in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation.”

Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal for business and enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said: “This unique and groundbreaking facility is already helping to inform and lead the future applications of robotics and AI on the global stage. Strategic partnerships like this will accelerate that process, ensuring that the expertise of the National Robotarium is sought after to address a multitude of global societal challenges. Entrepreneurship and collaboration lie at the heart of Heriot-Watt University’s ethos and we look forward to working in partnership with the National Robotarium to accelerate its research from lab to market.”

The 40,000ft ² National Robotarium building houses three distinct research and development areas, providing bespoke facilities for Robotics & Autonomous Systems (RAS), Human & Robotics Interaction (HRI) and High Precision Manufacturing. Amongst the specialist equipment is an autonomous systems laboratory and a living lab for trialling technology in a realistic home setting, It also includes a dedicated education hub with a schools outreach programme engaging young people in a robotics career.

The building’s design focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency. In winter, the intelligent facade will provide solar heat and recycle warm air while a solar PV array is installed on the roof.

For more information about collaborative opportunities, please visit https://thenationalrobotarium.com/

Don’t miss the Scotsman/Data-Driven Innovation conference 2022!

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How do we put data to use for the benefit of everyone? That’s the theme of this year’s data conference organised by The Scotsman and City Region Deal’s Data-Driven Innovation initiative.

Data for Diversity will look at how data and artificial intelligence can be deployed to deliver greater inclusion, equality and diversity.

Four panel sessions will feature very practical examples - including how data can support more diverse health outcomes and help to create a fairer financial future.

Keynote speakers are Renata Ávila and Dr Nakeema Stefflbauer, two leading authorities on deploying data to tackle bias.

Dr Stefflbauer, an American academic and tech professional based in Germany, will discuss her efforts to tackle bias in recruitment generally - and in the technology sector, through her work with social enterprise Frauenloop.

She is motivated by making “the tech industry live up to what it is supposed to be.” In an interview in The Scotsman’s data supplement, she said: “That ability to transform society is what hooked me into working in tech. It’s about attacking problems of inequality and access.”

Lawyer, author, and advocate Renata Ávila will also bring a powerful message about how data can empower people and improve equality. The Chief Executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation also co-founded the A+ Alliance, to redress the historic exclusion of women from technology and data systems.

In an interview with the DDI initiative, Ávila said: “The whole way algorithms are created and the datasets feeding them needs to change priorities and move from reactive to proactive, throughout the whole cycle. From conception to deployment and evaluation of AI systems, we should be studying how to serve people better, and serving better includes taking steps to massively reduce and even eradicate all gender inequalities in our public digital systems.”

Jarmo Eskelinen, Director of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, said: “Data is an enormously powerful tool in addressing issues of diversity, equality and inclusion – but data is not knowledge. It requires human interpretation. This event aims to highlight just how powerful it can be - in tackling institutionalised bias, delivering more inclusive health outcomes, creating a fairer financial future and much more.

“I’m excited to hear from leading thinkers like Renata Ávila and Nakeema Stefflbauer and to shine a light on specific examples of data’s vital role in building a more diverse, equal and inclusive society.”

The panel session on health features Manira Ahmad, Chief Office of Public Health Scotland, and Roger Halliday, Chief Executive of the recently-created Research Data Scotland, set up to “promote and advance health and social well-being in Scotland by enabling access to public sector data about people, places and businesses for research in the public good”.

Nicola Anderson, Chief Executive of FinTech Scotland, will chair the session on Data for a Fairer Financial World, with the panellists including Dame Julia Unwin, Chair of Smart Data Foundry and a former CEO of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Other panellists are Deborah Womack, Partner at EY, and David Goodbrand, a Partner and data expert from Burness Paull.

The final session focuses on how we build a diverse workforce and includes data worker Ixone Saenz Paraiso, describing her challenge in doing a data degree through sign language - and her work in creating a glossary of terms to help deaf people better access the data world. Claire Gillespie of Skills Development Scotland will also take part in the session.

Data for Diversity is an in-person event which takes place at South Hall Complex, University of Edinburgh, on Thursday, 29th September, from 9am-4pm. You can book here as an in-person or online delegate: www.scotsmandataconference.co.uk