Autumn 2022
Cover Story
Enterprise in the driving seat
By Kevin O'Sullivan
Mark Logan likes to talk about funnels and ecosystems. With the air of a restless science teacher, he talks about pouring fledgling companies into them, with something fully-formed coming out the other end. And then there’s the odd reference to Renaissance era innovation, and how a…


Ivan McKee has broad approach in sight as he nurtures…
Technology offers no shortage of opportunities for boosting Scotland’s economy, according to a Scottish government minister charged with…
By Poppy Watson


How can we help supercharge scale-ups?
As a nation, we are renowned for our thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Despite the challenges of recent years, figures…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Helping people at the margins – the digital way
Eilidh McLaughlin joined the Scottish Government’s digital directorate last month after working in a senior information security and…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Cloud tactics keep Ukraine online
On the first day of the biggest conflict on European soil since the Second World War, a team…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Dream home in the cloud
Explaining the technical aspects of cloud computing can be a challenge, even for those relatively well-versed in the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Estonia flies the flag for cybersecurity
In 1991, when Estonia restored its independence after 50 years of Soviet occupation, it was left with very…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


RoS vision maps out digital future
Registers of Scotland (RoS) is in the midst of an exciting transformation that will see it at the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Waking up to net zero
Gavin Tweedie is in a better position than most to appreciate the benefits that digitisation can offer to…
By Poppy Watson


Is net zero ambition within reach?
Anticipating the future has never been more important than today. Having foresight is a much-needed business capability that…
By Poppy Watson


Only trust unlocks true benefits of technology
The digital revolution is firmly established and continues to grow. One of the most exciting aspects of the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


BT underpins Scotland’s digital revolution
Doing the same thing differently will not be good enough in the future. “Organisations will need to do…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Internet of things can only get better
It has always been difficult to visualise the future of technology. If you look back just a few…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Where the smart money is
As global tech clusters go, Waterloo in the Canadian province of Ontario is probably not one that immediately…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Castlepoint puts AI at the heart of defence
Failure can be an expensive business. And Rachael Greaves, chief executive and co-founder of Castlepoint has seen this at…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Is your council running to stand still or making tracks…
Guaranteed reduction in costs for councils with automation Councils across Scotland’s mainland and island communities are the trusted…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


AI and data is changing the world
The global artificial intelligence (AI) market is booming. Reports from Bloomberg, for instance, suggest the sector is now…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


AI can bring us closer together and help – not…
AI is already changing our lives. From expert systems which predict the weather and the stock market, to…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Advice on tap
The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is steeped in a tradition of localism, compassion and support for those…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Joined-up approach transforms public service
In 2005 a small team of public service professionals, led by Strathclyde Police, got together in Glasgow to form…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Innovative solutions putting Scotland on the global healthcare map
I firmly believe that Scotland’s ability to develop new solutions for healthcare based around informatics, big data and…
By Poppy Watson


Talking the same language
Servelec, which was last year acquired by Access UK Ltd, believes in building common solutions to solve healthcare…
By Poppy Watson


Why organisations must take security seriously
The war might be in Ukraine, but cybercrime sees no borders We have all been left horrified by…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



Chief executive too fearful to speak out about cyberattack because…
The chief executive of an organisation hit last year by cybercrime has said they are too fearful of…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



Ways to secure your hybrid workforce
Cisco shares five tips to enable resilience everywhere so you can empower work anywhere As the world transitions…
By Poppy Watson


Getting on the front foot
We live in uncertain times. Our media is awash with tragic images and news from the conflictin Ukraine…
By Poppy Watson


Why 2022 will be a significant year for digital learning
In 2022 the impact of technology in the classroom shows no sign of abating. The ‘pandemic years’ have…
By Poppy Watson


Graduate apprenticeships boost talent pipeline
Graduate apprenticeships are helping plug digital skills gaps in Scotland, particularly in the business critical area of cyber…
By Poppy Watson
Winter 2021
Cover Story
Changing lives in a click
By Kevin O'Sullivan
Founder of Danish IT firm, Netcompany, believes software can give everyone the opportunity of a good life Since the easing of international travel restrictions, André Rogaczewski has been spending an increasing amount of his time in the air. The roving tech boss – who runs…


SNP Government ‘dragging feet’ on smart ticketing scheme for Scotland
Scottish ministers have come under fire for "dragging their feet" on a single national smartcard for public transport…
By Poppy Watson



Kate Forbes calls for greater political interest in national digital…
Scotland's finance secretary has called for a greater focus from all political parties on the role of the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Hands-off approach for census
National Records of Scotland will introduce an online option in the delayed audit of the population Scotland’s delayed…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Cloud storage opens door to lighter carbon footprints
Research finds AWS infrastructure to be five times more energy efficient than the average European enterprise data centre…
By Poppy Watson


Search for talent to put future stars centre stage
The hunt for ‘tech scalers’ is on. Mark Logan explains what these suppliers will need to offer new…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


What Cop26 means for climate tech
Was Glasgow all hot air? Or an important milestone on road to net zero? We look at the…
By Poppy Watson


Tech startups accelerating net zero
The Net Zero Technology Centre is supporting the clean energy innovators who will be crucial to solving the…
By Poppy Watson


Harness the momentum for climate change
Adding urgency to innovation, collaboration and change could well be the key to one planet prosperity and to…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Nurturing digital talent
There has never been a better time to take digital roles in the public sector Scotland is fast…
By Poppy Watson


Citizens at heart of reimagined Social Security services
Sopra Steria sets out how it developed a platform for benefit applications The way people apply for their…
By Poppy Watson


Boosting public IT services
Fujitsu has ambitions to strengthen its relationship with the Scottish Government as a digital transformation partner Now is…
By Poppy Watson


Collaboration: Let’s move from conversation to action to drive place-based…
Is working together the key to creating thriving and resilient communities in Scotland? Hayden Edwards of BT highlights…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


One step beyond
Now we’re increasingly connected, the next part of the journey is to maximise the positive impact on people’s…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


What lessons can Scotland learn from the Danes?
The Danish digital experience shows how standard solutions can speed and ease the transformation of essential services The…
By Poppy Watson


Former Facebook chief embarks on new Scottish venture
When Varun Nair hopped on a plane from India to Scotland 10 years ago - he never knew…
By Poppy Watson


Insights you can act on
Using data and emerging technology to improve citizen services and environmental sustainability is helping Scotland on its ‘smart…
By Poppy Watson


Can risk models tackle Scotland’s drugs crisis?
Innovative ideas are required to lower grim drug death rate Drug-related deaths in Scotland are continuing to spiral…
By Poppy Watson


Class act puts children at heart of policies
Lessons from data can help reduce impact of climate crisis on youngsters An eye-catching and worrying report at…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Work hard for a happy balance
Research reveals ways to help navigate the move from home office to hybrid working while retaining your workforce…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



Defying the odds
Twenty-five women moving the needle in Scotland’s digital technologies sector The experience of women in tech has shifted…
By Poppy Watson



Tech to tackle healthcare crisis
Health strategy seeks to connect and empower people in the age of digital care NHS backlogs and capacity…
By Poppy Watson


Digital options can help deliver better outcomes
Refreshed health and care strategy has latest technology at its heart as Scotland recovers from Covid The refreshed…
By Poppy Watson


‘It was the worst day in my entire career’
How islands health chief turned to digital in a crisis “Cases went from two, three, four, five… and…
By Poppy Watson


Rising to the 2045 challenge
SHIL’s call for innovative ideas can help Scottish healthcare take next steps in reducing carbon, costs and improving…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Next step for medicines management
The benefits for patients and clinicians will be in expanding the reach of e-prescriptions, says CMM chief executive…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


One in five hacking incidents targeting healthcare sector, says NCSC
One in five hacking incidents in the last 12 months were targeted against healthcare organisations according to the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Sharing valuable lessons after a cyberattack
Scotland’s environment protection agency is building back better after it was hit by a devastating ransomware incident last…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Building a security strategy fit for a new digital era
Prevention is better than cure, which is why it’s vital for organisations to build a proactive security strategy…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



SBRC launches new ‘Exercise in a Box’ session
The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) is helping to combat the rise in cybercrime by offering companies access…
By Poppy Watson



Ways to secure your hybrid workforce
Cisco shares five tips to enable resilience everywhere so you can empower work anywhere As the world transitions…
By Poppy Watson


Adopting a secure, sustainable strategy for managing data growth
Much has been written about the accelerated digital transformation in the public sector because of the Covid-19 pandemic.…
By Poppy Watson


Prison service dials up digital benefits
After Covid prompted the rollout of phones to prisoners, the bosses at Scotland’s jails are looking to unlock…
By Poppy Watson


Clear case to improve prosecutions
Digital evidence can breathe life back into the criminal justice system and cut backlog, believes one of Scotland’s…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Evidence takes a digital-first approach
Scotland’s criminal justice system is being transformed by a management solution from Axon Wherever you are in the…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Critical connections on the beat
Smart use of digital technology by Connected Officers can contribute to better outcomes for both police and the…
By Poppy Watson


Forging the links for digital economic growth
Huawei believes collaboration holds the key to giving individuals and businesses the tools and skills they need to…
By Poppy Watson


Speeds accelerate as fibre spreads
Scotland’s connectivity will benefit from the investment and innovation which is unlocking the power of full fibre builds,…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Removing barriers with 5G
Scotland can be a beacon showcasing the transformational benefits of digital connectivity The rollout of 5G in Scotland…
By Poppy Watson


A helping hand for telecoms
Infralink brings operators and landlords together to grow network As we recognise and build on the strengths of…
By Poppy Watson


Fibre optic network gears up for next milestone
Infrastructure which enables super-slick broadband speeds is spreading across Scotland as CityFibre expands When it comes to high-speed…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Sal Khan on how his YouTube channel became the biggest…
It has been 16 years since Sal Khan started a YouTube channel from his closet-turned-office in California in…
By Poppy Watson
Autumn 2021
Cover Story
It might look grey, empty and forlorn. In green data terms it’s ‘a massive opportunity’
By Kevin O'Sullivan
How a former top secret military installation is among locations scouted for a legion of ‘green datacentres’ With underground bunkers, watchtowers and Europe’s longest runway, it’s little wonder why someonline forums describe it as Scotland’s version of Area 51. But the former RAF base Machrihanishin…


Can Scotland lead a ‘green travel revolution’?
Innovations in climate technology will be vital in the journey to decarbonise the transport network “We will lead…
By Poppy Watson


Christie’s clarion call can’t wait another decade
Ten years ago, the Christie report set out an inspiring agenda for change that would put people at…
By Poppy Watson


Council opts not to switch on live facial recognition on…
A local authority is upgrading its CCTV system with a new £1m network of state-of-the-art digital cameras -…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Building digital skills in a world beyond Covid
Collaboration tools open up online universe of blended working The need for digital skills in the workplace is…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Learning to drive a thriving digital nation
The Scottish Digital Academy is making sure education and talent support the tech ecosystem The Scottish Digital Academy…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


On the road to cutting emissions
Research at Edinburgh University looks at how net-zero targets for decarbonising vehicles could impact the haulage industry With…
By Poppy Watson


Firm foundations to unlock digital estate
Data and technology will be key enablers of the enhanced performance of our built environment The United Nations…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Forget the elevator, it’s the second pitch that will help…
What you say to industry analysts makes the difference in growth The UK is one of the most…
By Poppy Watson


£1bn NHS recovery plan – what’s in store for digital?
Following a tech transformation across society over the past 18 months - the SNP Government has put digital…
By Poppy Watson


Councils turn to tech in face of mental health crisis
Pressure is mounting on the Scottish Government to tackle Covid-related surge As Scots continue to relish the once-taken-for-granted…
By Poppy Watson


Innovation call aims to help solve Scotland’s £1.7bn frailty problem
With an ageing population, it’s little wonder that frailty presents some big challenges for the long-term sustainability of…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Galvanizing a Net Zero nation through technology
Innovation is key to our response to the climate change emergency The climate emergency is real, and we’re…
By Poppy Watson


The smart piece of net zero jigsaw
Latest energy meters will drive decarbonisation and bring about a digital revolution to home-based services When smart meters…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Seizing the opportunities and accelerating the transition
University drives circular economy of the future The severity of the threat posed by climate change and the…
By Poppy Watson


5G dials up connected future
Enhanced connectivity can support Scotland’s objective to build a net-zero carbon nation Connecting communities using 5G-enabled technologies will…
By Poppy Watson


The green tech power list
Scottish startups driving digital solutions in the race to net zero As humankind faces its greatest challenge yet - how to combat the devastating environmental impacts of climate change – the need for…
By Poppy Watson


International exposure puts green solutions in the picture
Climate tech companies to showcase their innovations at Cop26 A government technology “alliance” founded in Scotland has launched…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



Businesses have their ‘heads in the sand’ as survey shows…
More than one in four Scottish firms have fallen prey to a cyber attack within the last three…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Is digital age in sight for Police Scotland?
Almost a decade since they were first used, the national rollout of body cameras could revolutionise policing The…
By Poppy Watson


Learn with Linda: how Gaelic storytelling became an online hit…
“I'm not really technically-minded," says Linda Macleod - but this hasn’t stopped the rising TV star from delivering…
By Poppy Watson


‘It was our Apollo 13 moment’. How one Edinburgh primary…
The world of education is currently undergoing a transformation. Schools - buffeted by the cruel winds of covid…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Boom time for tech sector links with the US
SDI helps Scotland buck downward UK trend in inward investment Scotland appears to have bucked the downturn in…
By Kevin O'Sullivan
Summer 2021
Cover Story
Exclusive: Dark threats to Scotland’s data – hacked credentials are ‘wake up call’ for public sector
By Kevin O'Sullivan
Tens of thousands of email accounts belonging to public sector officials have been found on the dark web following a Futurescot investigation. More than 42,000 “leaked credentials” and “compromised accounts” are listed on underground hacker forums, raising fears about potentially crippling cyberattacks. According to our…


Scottish coding influencers lead the way
There could be no better campaign for the importance of computing science than a global pandemic. As the…
By Poppy Watson


Come fly with me – Covid digital vaccination certificate prepares…
When it comes to testing technology on users Deryck Mitchelson turned to an unusual focus group. He asked…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


The e-school ‘in the right place at the right time’
It’s hard to imagine many teachers would relish the opportunity to lead Scotland’s “most scrutinised school” through a…
By Poppy Watson



Minister targets support for most vulnerable to close digital divide
Distributing a further 40,000 devices to the people who “most need them” is the top digital priority in…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Charting a safe pathway through echo chambers
Globalisation and digitalisation have connected people, cities, countries and continents in ways that vastly increase our individual and…
By Poppy Watson


How the tech-savvy Estonians delivered education during Covid
When Covid struck last year, schools globally were thrown into disarray - but there is always an exception…
By Poppy Watson


Opening doors
How a device for every child will change the culture of learning and teaching “I was about eight…
By Poppy Watson


Why Scotland must ask 100 questions to unlock AI potential
Can you think of a question, which if answered, could transformsociety? Scotland must identify 100 such questions to…
By Poppy Watson


Data hits all the right notes for creatives
As pandemic restrictions are increasingly eased for most of us, businesses across every sector are looking for creative…
By Poppy Watson


Online Scottish history resources are helping to lay the ghost…
As a history teacher at Leith Academy in Edinburgh, Jesanna Gooch has worked tirelessly to engage her students’…
By Poppy Watson


Vast sensor network heralds new data dawn
South-east Scotland is about to pass a major milestone on its journey to becoming a more joined-up region.…
By Poppy Watson


Working as ‘one team’
I often read in tenders that organisations are “seeking a strategic partnership” – but unfortunately, once the contracts…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Taking innovation to the next level
The public sector has been slow to embrace artificial intelligence but there are signs that the appetite for…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



The rise of ransomware and what to do
The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) recently surveyed more than 250 businesses in Scotland about their cyber preparedness…
By Poppy Watson


Strong connections count
If you trace the roots of the American tech company Cisco, its foundation – and its future success…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


The 17 digital initiatives helping a health board through the…
A Scottish health board has highlighted the 17 digital initiatives that have helped it respond to the Covid-19…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



NHS recovery demands bold thinking
After an election campaign where restart and recovery took centre stage, it’s now up to the Scottish Government…
By Poppy Watson


Did ‘exposed’ data on dark web lead to ransomware attack…
Police and national cyber experts are investigating after a Scottish university – which had thousands of leaked email…
By Kevin O'Sullivan



‘How you deliver on the strategy is what really counts’
Scotland’s innovation minister has committed to a quarterly review of a new government digital strategy in order to…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


Building Scotland’s reputation on the world stage for data and…
The Data Lab is helping startups develop cutting-edge tech – fit for the pandemic. It’s been a difficult…
By Kevin O'Sullivan


‘Major boost’ to digital connectivity and cybersecurity across Tayside
Three projects that will significantly enhance rural broadband and cybersecurity across Tayside while creating new job and enterprise…
By Poppy Watson


Investing in innovation
Data Driven Entrepreneurship programme supports post-Covid recovery Despite the many unknowns of the Covid pandemic, one thing has…
By Poppy Watson