Scotland’s internet of things (IoT) innovation centre has taken up the fight against climate change in a new strategic partnership agreement with government.
CENSIS – the centre for sensing, imaging, and Internet of Things – has joined forces with the government tech accelerator CivTech to support a number of public sector challenges, including net zero aims.
The Glasgow-based centre will be part of CivTech 6.0 – launched on June 14 – and will collaborate with the Scottish Government’s digital directorate across a range of challenges where IoT may be applied.
They include the transition to net zero; healthcare in the post-Covid world; supporting rural communities; and managing educational estates for the benefit of pupils, teachers and the wider community.
Following the programme’s launch, successful applicants will be taken forward to the exploration stage to identify technological solutions.
After four weeks, participants will then move to the accelerator stage. The companies will develop their proposition into early-stage prototypes, with the first likely to be delivered in early 2021.
CENSIS will support the selected companies throughout the different stages of CivTech, helping them to develop their technology, mature their offering, and potentially accelerate their business growth through access to the innovation centre’s facilities and capabilities.
The partnership recognises the growing importance of IoT technologies that has emerged during previous CivTech challenges. In the first programme, just one of the challenges required IoT support, but by last year this had risen to six out of the 10 in total.
Paul Winstanley, CEO of CENSIS, said: “Our partnership with CivTech is about bringing together specialisms and skills in a way that will deliver real change for public services. CENSIS and CivTech have a range of common objectives, including supporting the drive towards net zero by 2045, and through collaboration we believe we can collectively achieve greater impact, while helping to develop and scale more technology-focussed businesses in Scotland.”
Ivan McKee, Trade Minister at the Scottish Government, added: “The partnership with CENSIS is the first time CivTech has worked in this way. It will help the public sector bring challenges forward and create new ways of working with companies to deliver technology that has a positive impact.
“We would encourage anyone – whether you work for a large business, an SME, or are an individual – with an idea that addresses the challenges to apply. Whatever your background is, we can help you develop a product or even a business during the programme.”
To apply for CivTech 6, visit: CivTech 6 — The CivTech Alliance