Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to be harnessed to develop technologies to address issues such as an AI system which can help teachers with administrative tasks.
The latest round of the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme has awarded up to £9 million to 14 companies developing AI products to tackle challenges faced by charities and public sector organisations. CivTech 10 is the first round of the programme to focus on AI.
Products being developed include:
- a software to help identify toxic contaminants to address the risk of cancer for firefighters.
- an AI system which can help teachers with administrative tasks.
- using drones and an automated mapping system to monitor puffin populations in a less invasive way.
- an AI support system to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Previous rounds of CivTech have seen £20 million invested into 90 companies and entrepreneurs since 2016. These include software company Volunteero which developed a mobile app to help charities manage administrative tasks.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland is well-placed to harness the advantages of artificial intelligence with its rich history of innovation and high concentration of world-leading universities and colleges.
“The rapidly growing AI sector offers opportunities for Scotland, from helping to detect health issues such as lung cancer earlier, to enabling businesses to work more efficiently.
“Through CivTech, we are revolutionising how public sector organisations work by collaborating with businesses to develop products which improve lives.”
