DigitalScotland: Tayside

Supporting economic growth and digital transformation across Scotland

Date: Thursday 8 June 2023
Venue: Abertay University, Kydd Building, Bell St, Dundee, DD1 1HG
Timings: 08:30 – 16:30

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

Ticket Prices

GUESTS / GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS: FREE OF CHARGE
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS: £39.00
COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS: £39.00

DigitalScotland: Tayside, supported by The Times Scotland, will bring together policy makers, business leaders, educators and community stakeholders to explore the opportunities and challenges of economic growth and digital transformation in Tayside.

Like many parts of Scotland and the UK, the region is remaking itself in a new era. The digital age is disrupting industries old and new, with Tayside seeking its own place in the firmament of global digital pioneers. With government support through city region deal funding, civic leaders are determined to bring to bear new skills and press their economic advantages to become more productive, competitive and ambitious to connect to global markets.

We will be joined at the conference by the Estonian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Viljar Lubi who will highlight the policy and local government levers that have inspired and led enormous growth in the Estonian life sciences, gaming and cyber industries, and will share how Tayside, and the rest of Scotland, can learn from these experiences.

The full day conference will also provide:

  • An update on the progress of the Tay Cities Region Deal
  • A focus on key sectors, skills and infrastructure investment to stimulate the region’s digital economy
  • An insight into locally funded programmes that are helping to boost jobs, productivity and innovation
  • An insight into the local tech ecosystem, start-ups and funding opportunities for growth
  • Understanding how regions can learn from one another, work together and partner with local and national agencies
  • Networking opportunities and sharing best practice

Sponsors

Sponsor profile
Sponsor profile

2023 Speakers


Chief Entrepreneur
The Scottish Government

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council


Ambassador of Estonia in the UK

Director of Economic Development
The Scottish Government

Principal and Vice-Chancellor
University of Dundee

CEO
Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce

Principal
Chroma Ventures

Head of Information & Cyber Security
NHS National Services Scotland

Business Development Manager
cyberQuarter, Abertay University

VP of Regional Engagement
CodeBase

Regius Professor of Life Sciences
University of Dundee

Head of Business & Employability
Fife Council

Founder
Scottish Games Network

Head of Games Technology and Mathematics in School of Design & Informatics
Abertay University


Tay Cities Region Deal Digital Skills Project

Chair, Tayside Cities Region Joint Committee
Perth & Kinross Council

Founder
Mediacraft

Co-founder & Chief Technical Officer
MyWay Digital Health

Senior Business Innovation Manager
Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

Clinical Innovation Fellow
NHS Scotland

Head of Sector Development – Digital Economy and Financial Services
Skills Development Scotland

Chair
National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board

CEO
ESports Scotland

CEO
Pocket Sized Hands

CEO & Founder
Team Terrible

CTO
Brightsolid

Sponsors

Sponsor profile

Brightsolid is Scotland’s expert in colocation, cloud and cyber security solutions. We combine brilliantly bright ideas with seriously solid solutions to meet our customer’s business needs and ambitions. From custom-built colocation to hybrid cloud expertise and the latest cyber security technology, Brightsolid solutions are future-proofed with industry leading performance, agility, and reliability – all at great value for money. At Brightsolid, our focus is not just on what we do but how we do it, and it’s this approach that ensures we’re there to help our customers make the right decisions every step of the way.

Sponsor profile

Dewar Cyber Consulting is a specialist firm providing high quality cyber security simulations, exercises and training with a unique difference – all of our activities are non-technical. We know that taking care of your cyber security can seem overwhelming – but leaving it behind can mean your systems and teams are left vulnerable to security threats.

DCC has three areas of work, each tailored to suit our customers’ needs. 

  • Our exercises are designed to help you understand not only your needs, but how your processes, policies and procedures operate. Ranging from 2-hour guided workshops to full-day facilitated activities, DCC has a range of activities to suit the requirements of any organisation.
  • Our simulations are fully immersive and hyperrealistic. Using a specialised online simulation platform, participants experience first-hand the effects of cyber-incidents in real time.
  • Our policy research is conducted using high quality academic techniques to provide the most innovative solutions for our clients, while advising international policy.

Conference Agenda

8 June 2023 | Session One – Securing the future

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration & Networking

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM

Chair’s opening remarks


Erikka Askeland
Mediacraft
9:05 AM – 9:15 AM

Tay Cities Region Deal – An investment in the future economy:

Spotlighting the achievements of City Region & Regional Growth Deals, profiling key sectors and discussing future investment plans


Cllr Grant Laing
Perth & Kinross Council
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM

Generating impact:

Strategy and driving collaboration between industry, academia, and government


Professor Iain Gillespie
University of Dundee
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Harnessing tech for business growth:

Leveraging data and digital innovation to support emerging and legacy businesses


Alison Henderson
Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Supporting regional digital transformation:

Building a robust digital infrastructure to support the new generation of smart services – supporting new industries and stimulating economic growth


Robin Presswood
Dundee City Council
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Questions from the audience

10:15 AM – 10:55 AM

Panel Discussion: Developing the digital economy

Pan-regional efforts to boost the tech ecosystem


Phil Ford
Skills Development Scotland

Gordon Mole
Fife Council

Audrey Opdycke-Barnes
CodeBase

Morag Millar
Tay Cities Region Deal Digital Skills Project
10:55 AM – 11:25 AM

Networking & refreshments

8 June 2023 | Session Two

11:25 AM – 11:45 AM

Lessons from the extraordinary growth of the Estonian digital economy

How a tiny Baltic nation became a tech powerhouse with world-leading cyber, gaming and life sciences clusters


Ambassador H.E. Mr. Viljar Lubi
Ambassador of Estonia in the UK
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Building a world-class cluster for cybersecurity excellence and resilience

Opportunities to support ethical hacking, cyber innovation, startups and skills. Chaired by Cheryl Torano.


Cheryl Torano
cyberQuarter, Abertay University

David Ferbrache OBE
National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board

Andy Sinclair
Brightsolid

Scott Barnett
NHS National Services Scotland
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Lunch and Networking

8 June 2023 | Session Three: Innovation, economic transformation and entrepreneurship

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM

Government driving change:

Harnessing innovation and technology to support economic transformation


Colin Cook
The Scottish Government
1:55 PM – 2:10 PM

Supporting the tech ecosystem:

Unlocking the potential for Scotland’s startups and founders (Pre-record)


Mark Logan
The Scottish Government
2:10 PM – 2:25 PM

Building the next generation of Scottish startups:

Investment support and access to scale-up capital


Chris van der Kuyl CBE, FRSE
Chroma Ventures
2:25 PM – 2:40 PM

Questions from the audience


Colin Cook
The Scottish Government

Chris van der Kuyl CBE, FRSE
Chroma Ventures
2:40 PM – 2:45 PM

Transition

8 June 2023 | Session Four - Innovation and driving key economies

2:45 PM – 3:55 PM

Leadership Stream A: Technology driving innovation in life sciences and healthcare

Opportunities to drive growth across the bio-tech, med-tech and health-tech sectors


Professor Sir Mike Ferguson CBE FRS FRSE FMedSci
University of Dundee

Dr Scott Cunningham
MyWay Digital Health

Dr Abigail Lyons
Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

Joyce Henderson
NHS Scotland
2:45 PM – 3:55 PM

Leadership Stream B: Maintaining and growing a global reputation for innovation in computing gaming

Opportunities to support gaming, e-sports and design technologies


Brian Baglow
Scottish Games Network

Prof Ruth Falconer
Abertay University

Greg Lee
Team Terrible

Gary McCartan
Pocket Sized Hands

James Hood
ESports Scotland
3:55 PM – 5:00 PM

Networking Drinks and cyberQuarter tour

Event Sponsors

Sponsor profile

Brightsolid is Scotland’s expert in colocation, cloud and cyber security solutions. We combine brilliantly bright ideas with seriously solid solutions to meet our customer’s business needs and ambitions. From custom-built colocation to hybrid cloud expertise and the latest cyber security technology, Brightsolid solutions are future-proofed with industry leading performance, agility, and reliability – all at great value for money. At Brightsolid, our focus is not just on what we do but how we do it, and it’s this approach that ensures we’re there to help our customers make the right decisions every step of the way.

Sponsor profile

Dewar Cyber Consulting is a specialist firm providing high quality cyber security simulations, exercises and training with a unique difference – all of our activities are non-technical. We know that taking care of your cyber security can seem overwhelming – but leaving it behind can mean your systems and teams are left vulnerable to security threats.

DCC has three areas of work, each tailored to suit our customers’ needs. 

  • Our exercises are designed to help you understand not only your needs, but how your processes, policies and procedures operate. Ranging from 2-hour guided workshops to full-day facilitated activities, DCC has a range of activities to suit the requirements of any organisation.
  • Our simulations are fully immersive and hyperrealistic. Using a specialised online simulation platform, participants experience first-hand the effects of cyber-incidents in real time.
  • Our policy research is conducted using high quality academic techniques to provide the most innovative solutions for our clients, while advising international policy.

2023 Speakers

Coming soon


Chief Entrepreneur
The Scottish Government

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council


Ambassador of Estonia in the UK

Director of Economic Development
The Scottish Government

Principal and Vice-Chancellor
University of Dundee

CEO
Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce

Principal
Chroma Ventures

Head of Information & Cyber Security
NHS National Services Scotland

Business Development Manager
cyberQuarter, Abertay University

VP of Regional Engagement
CodeBase

Regius Professor of Life Sciences
University of Dundee

Head of Business & Employability
Fife Council

Founder
Scottish Games Network

Head of Games Technology and Mathematics in School of Design & Informatics
Abertay University


Tay Cities Region Deal Digital Skills Project

Chair, Tayside Cities Region Joint Committee
Perth & Kinross Council

Founder
Mediacraft

Co-founder & Chief Technical Officer
MyWay Digital Health

Senior Business Innovation Manager
Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre

Clinical Innovation Fellow
NHS Scotland

Head of Sector Development – Digital Economy and Financial Services
Skills Development Scotland

Chair
National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board

CEO
ESports Scotland

CEO
Pocket Sized Hands

CEO & Founder
Team Terrible

CTO
Brightsolid

Conference Agenda

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