Scottish universities launch new data skills initiative

Holyrood 28 September 2018

Two Scottish universities have launched a new initiative aimed at training 100,000 people in data skills, through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. With Scotland forecast to require around 13,000 extra workers each year with data skills, the £661 million (US$861 million) Data-Driven Innovation initiative, launched by Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities, will aim to transform Edinburgh and the surrounding area into the ‘data capital of Europe’, writes Liam Kirkaldy for Holyrood.

The £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal was announced by the Scottish and United Kingdom governments in August, including plans for increased investment in transport, housing, culture and skills and employability. Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the initiative would “ensure that the UK leads the world in technologies of the future and benefits from the economic growth opportunities this brings”.

The University of Edinburgh’s supercomputing capabilities will also be strengthened with investment in a data analysis facility, which will help 1,000 organisations use data to innovate within their sectors. Infrastructure Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The £300 million Scottish government investment in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal will help deliver inclusive economic growth across the region. The Data Driven Innovation programme will be key to this, providing a significant step-change in our productivity.”
Full report on the Holyrood site

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