Driving public service innovation

Twelve start-up companies have each been awarded £35,000 to fast track high-tech solutions to help improve people’s lives and public services.

Projects include finding new ways to improve support for people with long term health conditions, systems to help tackle teacher workload and the creation of a portal to gather the authentic language data required for building Gaelic digital technology such as voice recognition software.

The companies will enter a 15-week Accelerator phase of CivTech, the Scottish Government business incubator, working with their public sector sponsors to produce a Minimum Viable Product for use and further development.

At the end of the programme, the companies could secure significant contracts and the opportunity to share major public investment of up to £7.7 million.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited the University of Edinburgh, one of the sponsors of the project being led by Community Enterprise to develop a portal that will address the scarcity of available Gaelic language data.

The Deputy First Minister said:

“CivTech is a unique programme that not only provides critical support to some of Scotland’s most promising and growing tech start-ups and SMEs, but at the same time harnesses their creative talent and innovation to improve public services.

“CivTech 11 has once again delivered hugely promising proposals to tackle a wide range of challenges. I look forward to the Accelerator helping to deliver more game-changing products and services that can continue improving the public services that matter to people across the country.”

Provost of the University of Edinburgh Professor Kim Graham said:

“Turning bold ideas into solutions that improve people’s lives is at the heart of what we do at the University of Edinburgh. This programme offers significant support to pioneering start-up companies, including developing their expertise in Gaelic technologies that are fit for a digital world.

“As part of the University’s commitment to Gaelic language and culture, the funding will support our work to overcome barriers to accessible speech and language data, providing a blueprint for other minority languages worldwide.”

Digital Lead at Community Enterprise Jane Mackinnon said:

“We’re excited to join the CivTech Round 11 Accelerator, bringing our community focused approach together with creative and technical expertise, in partnership with Fèisean nan Gàidheal, to support the future of the Gaelic language.

“By creating a safe, simple way for communities to contribute authentic Gaelic data, we aim to protect cultural heritage and open new digital opportunities for speakers and learners.”

Background

Details about CivTech 11, including the 12 companies entering the Accelerator phase, are available on the CivTech website.

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A’ stiùireadh ùr-ghnathachas san roinn phoblaich

Tha companaidhean CivTech a’ co-roinn £420,000 gus bun-bheachdan a leasachadh.

Chaidh £35,000 a bhuileachadh air 12 companaidhean ùra gus an urrainn dhaibh co-dhùnaidhean aig àrd-ìre theicnigich ullachadh a bheir deagh bhuaidh air beatha dhaoine is seirbheisean poblach.

Am measg nam pròiseact tha a bhith a’ lorg dhòighean ùra a bheir piseach air an taic a gheibh daoine a tha a’ fulang trioblaidean slàinte fad-ùine, shiostaman gus faochadh a thoirt air an uallach-obrach aig tidsearan is a bhith a’ cruthachadh portal-dàta a chruinnicheas dàta-cainnte earbsach a tha a dhìth gus togail teicneòlas didseatach Gàidhlig, leithid bathar-bog a dh’aithnicheas guthan.

Tòisichidh na companaidhean a-nis Ìre Luathachaidh CivTech – an iomairt leis am bi Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ toirt breith do ghnothachasan. Mairidh seo 15 seachdainean is bidh iad ag obair còmhla ris na sponsairean aca bhon roinn phoblaich gus an cruthaich iad bathar às am faigh a’ chiad luchd-cleachdaidh feum agus as urrainn dhaibh an uair sin leasachadh buileach.

Aig deireadh a’ phrògraim seo, b’ urrainn do na companaidhean cùmhnantan cudromach a ghlèidheadh agus cothrom fhaighinn air pàirt de thasgadh-airgid poblach anns am bi suas gu £7.7 millean de luach.

Chaidh an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis a thadhal air Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, is iad fhèin am measg sponsairean pròiseact a tha fo stiùir Community Enterprise gus portal-dàta a leasachadh a dhèiligeas ris a’ bheàirn a th’ aig Gàidhlig a thaobh dàta-cainnte.

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear:

“Tha CivTech na phrògram sònraichte a chumas taic ri cuid dhe na gnìomhachasan-teicneòlais ùra, Iomairtean Beaga is Iomairtean Meadhanach Mòr as gealltanaiche agus soirbheachaile ann an Alba. Aig an aon àm, nì am prògram feum dhen cuid tàlant cruthachail agus beachdan ùr-ghnàthachaidh airson seirbheisean poblach a leasachadh.

“Tha CivTech 11 aon uair eile air molaidhean a thoirt gu buil anns a bheil an t-uamhas luach gus dèiligeadh ri measgachadh mòr de dhùbhlain. Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ris a’ chuideachadh a bheir an Ìre Luathachaidh do na companaidhean seo a bhith a’ lorg cho-dhùnaidhean a bhios nan cruth-atharrachadh do na h-oidhirpean againn piseach a thoirt air seirbheisean poblach a tha cudromach do dhaoine air feadh na dùthcha.”

Thuirt Pròbhaist Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, Kim Ghreumach:

“Aig cridhe na tha sinn a’ dèanamh aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann tha a bhith a’ cur an sàs smuaintean ùra is dàna às an tig co-dhùnaidhean a chuireas ri math dhaoine. Tha am prògram seo a’ toirt taic chudromach do chompanaidhean ùra a tha ag obair aig fìor iomall nan roinntean aca – is am measg seo tha a bhith a’ togail an cuid-eòlais a thaobh teicneòlasan Gàidhlig a tha a’ freagairt ri feumalachdan an t-saoghail dhidsitich.

“Mar phàirt de ghealladh an Oilthigh do chànan is cultar na Gàidhlig, cuiridh am maoineachadh seo taic ris an obair againn gus leagail na cnapan-starra a tha mu choinneamh dàta-cainnte is dàta-cànain ruigsinneach.”

Thuirt an Ceannard Didseatach aig Community Enterprise, Jane NicFhionghain:

“’S e rud misneachail a th’ ann dhuinn a bhith an sàs ann an Ìre Luathachaidh CivTech 11. Tha ar dòigh-obrach – aig a bheil amas air a’ choimhearsnachd – a’ dol an lùib àrd-eòlas cruthachail is teicnigeach, ann an com-pàirteachas le Fèisean nan Gàidheal, gus taic a chur ri teachd-àm na Gàidhlig.

“Tro bhith a’ cruthachadh dòigh shàbhailte, shìmplidh do choimhearsnachdan a bhith a’ cur thugainn dàta Gàidhlig earbsach, tha sinn ag amas a bhith a’ glèidheadh dualchas cultarail is a bhith a’ fosgladh chothroman didseatach ùra do luchd-labhairt is luchd-ionnsachaidh.”