The National Robotarium – the UK’s centre for robotics and AI – ‘stands ready’ to be a key delivery partner for a new AI Scotland programme announced yesterday by ministers.
The centre, part of Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt university, is preparing to support a new initiative announced by the Scottish Government to encourage artificial intelligence adoption by small and medium-sized businesses.
The concept was outlined in the annual ‘programme for government’, launched by First Minister John Swinney at Holyrood yesterday. In the 43-page document, there was mention of AI Scotland – ‘a new national transformation programme founded on a partnership of business, academia, agencies and government, including a national AI adoption programme for SMEs’.
Stewart Miller, chief executive of the National Robotarium, said: “Today’s ambitious Programme for Government demonstrates a clear commitment to positioning Scotland as a global leader in innovation, entrepreneurship and technology. The launch of AI Scotland as a national transformation programme is particularly significant, as it recognises the critical role that AI and robotics will play in Scotland’s economic future.”
The Scottish Government also proposed establishing a ‘new Technology Council of global business and academic experts to advise the Government on applying and benefiting from emerging technological trends’ and a university proof of concept fund, ‘focused on supporting research projects with significant economic potential to progress towards the formation of new companies by building prototypes, achieving market validation and attracting investment.”
Miller said: “As the UK’s centre for robotics and AI, the National Robotarium stands ready to be a key delivery partner in this vision, helping to implement the national AI adoption programme for SMEs and contributing to the Technology Council of global business and academic experts that will now advise the government on applying and benefiting from emerging technological trends.”
He added: “The Government’s plan to establish a university proof of concept fund is a welcome step that will help bridge the gap between research and commercialisation – something we’ve identified as crucial to building a robotics manufacturing ecosystem in Scotland. By supporting research projects with significant economic potential to progress towards forming new companies, this initiative will help ensure more Scottish innovations reach the market and create economic value within our borders.”
The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland also welcomed the proposed AI support for their members.
Guy Hinks, FSB Scotland chair, said: “The opportunities and risks which artificial intelligence represents for Scotland’s small businesses are both considerable, and have been the subject of extensive discussions between FSB Scotland and Scottish ministers. So, we are pleased to see plans being brought forward for a national scheme to support the tens of thousands of small businesses who are adopting or wish to adopt AI.
“Small firms are agile. With the correct support and regulatory framework, they can adopt advancing technology at pace. FSB research shows that among small businesses who aim to expand rapidly in the next 12 months, almost two-thirds (60%) plan to use AI. Yet the same research showed only one in five small firms had introduced the technology into their operations last year, so the potential benefits of spreading its adoption in terms of improved efficiency and improving services and products are considerable.”
AI is not without its challenges for small firms, Hinks added. Around a quarter involved in information and communication report that the technology could undermine the long-term viability of their business, according to the FSB’s Redefining Intelligence: The Growth of AI Among Small Firms report. Companies involved in the survey also report fears that intellectual property rights could be infringed by AI, and therefore a ‘fair and balanced UK-wide regulatory framework is urgently needed’.
Hinks added: “However, the technological skills gap is the biggest single challenge for small business owners. The majority (55%) see potential benefits for their business, but almost half (46%) say their staff lack the knowledge or skills to use the technology successfully. That is why the launch of AI Scotland has the potential to be transformational for our small businesses.”
Another feature of the programme for government was a commitment to a ‘national innovation week’ and ‘innovation summit’, to be hosted at a yet to be disclosed location in autumn, bringing together key players in Scotland’s innovation community including heads of innovation centres, agency innovation teams, incubators, cluster management organisations and university entrepreneurs.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead added: “Artificial intelligence and innovation work hand in hand to fuel economic growth and can be a force for good across various sectors, with life-altering AI innovations in health for example.
“Scotland’s world-renowned talent for research, innovation and ingenuity, means we are perfectly placed to capitalise on AI’s rapid growth in a fair and transparent way.
“That’s why the Scottish Government is developing the AI Scotland programme and planning an Innovation Week and Summit – because we can and must be at the heart of this globally-important industry.”
