Technology and Start-ups ecosystem events funding: FOI release

Information requested

The funding provided by the Startup Infrastructure and Community Team since the publication of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review. You also asked for of any other relevant ‘teams / business areas’ that are liable to routinely provide funding for technology and start-up ecosystem events.

Response

The answer to your question is £18,543,889.84, covering grant payments and contractual commitments from the period between 1 April 2020, around the inception of STER, to 10 January 2024. This relies on data drawn from multiple systems across varying time periods, so while comprehensive, we cannot fully dismiss the possibility of certain residual discrepancies.

Given the nature of this request spanning a timeframe of four years, changes in departmental structures make compiling an exhaustive list of potential funders of technology and start-up ecosystem events challenging. However, below I have highlighted some of the key teams and public bodies that may have relevant information on funding provided for events and the start-up ecosystem:

• The Directorate for Economic Development more broadly, i.e. beyond just the Startup Infrastructure and Community Team, as supporting technology, innovation and the start-up ecosystem falls within its remit.
• The Directorate for Digital may also have provided relevant funding for events focused on digital technologies and transformations.
• Public bodies such as Scottish Enterprise have a mandate to support Scotland’s economic development and work closely with innovative companies, including tech start-ups. They may hold useful information on related funding and events.

While a comprehensive list cannot be easily compiled, hopefully the above guidance highlights areas for further investigation related to your query. Please be as specific as possible on timeframe, type of funding recipient or other details that could help focus the scope and identification of relevant teams.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.