Techscaler selection process and assessment structure: FOI release

Information requested

I am requesting the following information under freedom of information legislation: All written materials outlining the formal selection process and findings for each of the candidates selected for all Techscaler international hubs/visits to date. Please outline what selection process was followed and how each of the businesses selected were found to meet that threshold. If these are different for each of the trips, please include the details for each trip individually. Please include any justifications created and/or submitted to government outlining the reasons for these criteria.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information we are able to release in response to your request.
This includes material describing the process used to select participants for Techscaler international programmes, including eligibility criteria, assessment structure and oversight arrangements.

We have not released the underlying applications, scoring records, or evaluative commentary, as these contain commercially sensitive business information, personal data and candid assessor views.
Disclosure of such material would prejudice future selection exercises and breach applicant confidentiality.

​​​​​​​Accordingly, exemptions under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) apply to this information requested, as set out below:

Section 30(b)(ii) – Free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption applies to internal comments and evaluations recorded during the assessment of applications. These reflect candid professional opinions shared in confidence. Disclosing them would be likely to inhibit the free and frank exchange of views in future selection exercises, reducing the quality of advice and deliberation. This exemption is subject to the public interest test. On balance, the public interest in protecting the integrity of future assessments outweighs the interest in disclosure.

​​​​​​​Section 33(1)(b) – Commercial interests. This exemption applies to information within the applications that describes companies’ products, markets, revenues, investment positions and business strategies. Disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of the applicants and of CodeBase as programme operator, by revealing non-public business information and deterring open participation in future cohorts. This exemption is also subject to the public interest test. On balance, we consider that the potential harm to commercial interests outweighs any additional transparency benefit.

​​​​​​​Section 38(1)(b) – Personal data of third parties. Some information has been withheld because it constitutes personal data of identifiable individuals (for example, founders’ names and staff contact details). Releasing this information would contravene the data-protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This is an absolute exemption and is not subject to the public interest test.

Section 30(c) – Substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs.
​​​​​​​This exemption applies where disclosure would undermine the effective administration of competitive selection exercises for Techscaler and similar programmes. The withheld information includes confidential business data and candid assessments, the release of which could deter applicants from providing full information or inhibit assessors from offering open feedback. Protecting this space for candid submission and evaluation is essential to the fair and effective operation of future rounds. The public interest in maintaining this exemption therefore outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

​​​​​​​Summary

In summary, we have released the information that sets out how the selection process operates, while withholding detailed application and evaluation material to protect the commercial interests, personal data, and candid assessments of those involved. We consider this approach to strike the appropriate balance between transparency and fairness.

About FOI

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

FOI 202500483534 - Information Released - Annex

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