As part of The National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs, The Data Lab supported architectural consultancy Bracewell in developing an AI-powered tool to analyse tender documents and support bid decisions, streamlining complex reviews, improving consistency, and reducing staff administrative burden. The Challenge Bracewell’s tender review process was manual, time-intensive, and reliant on individual judgment. Staff […]
Case Studies
Makar: Using Live Data to Prove the Performance of Sustainable Homes
As part of The National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs, The Data Lab partnered with Makar, a Highland-based Scottish SME, to embed monitoring and analytics into a prototype low-carbon home. Using live data on indoor comfort, air quality and energy use, the project demonstrated the home’s real-world performance and enabled more evidence-based decision-making. The Challenge […]
Scottish AI Alliance: Leading Scotland’s AI Strategy
From 2021 to 2026, The Data Lab worked in a strategic collaboration with the Scottish Government to develop and deliver Scotland’s AI Strategy through the Scottish AI Alliance. Guided by principles from the OECD and UNICEF, the strategy set out the vision for Scotland to become a world leader in trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive AI. The Challenge From powering smartphones to improving healthcare and detecting fraud, AI […]
The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service: Helping local authorities reduce emissions
Supported by The Data Lab, the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) developed innovative tools to facilitate data-driven decisions and positive climate action by local governments. The Challenge Scotland has ambitious net-zero targets, requiring all public bodies to cut their organisational emissions. But Scotland’s 32 local authorities want to go further, tackling emissions from all sources […]
Elementz and The Data Lab: Advancing AI Talent Through Industry Collaboration
The Data Lab is helping shape Scotland’s AI talent pipeline by connecting students with industry. Elementz, specialists in subsea integrity software, shared their experience hosting Karol Hetman, a Data Lab Academy student whose placement delivered lasting impact. Karol Hetman, a Computer Science and Physics graduate from the University of Aberdeen, had already been working as […]
Cancer Innovation Challenge: Transforming the lives of cancer patients
The Cancer Innovation Challenge was a £1M project funded by the Scottish Funding Council to help Scotland become a world-leading carer for people with cancer. Innovation Centres The Data Lab, Digital Health and Care Institute and Precision Medicine Scotland worked in partnership to help the NHS in Scotland use data to refine diagnosis, select treatments […]
Kelsey Pearson: Data Skills funding advances data science career
Kelsey Pearson, a Data Skills Credit recipient, significantly advanced her career after completing a Professional Development Award in Data Science with Code Division, funded through The Data Lab’s Data Skills for Work programme. We spoke to Kelsey about her journey from a Data Assistant to a Data & Analytics Consultant and how she still feels […]
Cameron Stott: Placement Leads to Permanent Position
Cameron Stott, a graduate of the MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Aberdeen, received hands-on industry experience at ThinkAnalytics through The Data Lab Academy. We spoke to Cameron about how the placement has impacted his career, which recently led to him securing a full-time position with the company. The Challenge Cameron’s placement at ThinkAnalytics […]
AICE: Innovation in early bowel cancer detection
The AICE project is an international collaboration between The Data Lab, NHS Highland, DHI, and European partners using AI to help clinicians spot the early warning signs of bowel cancer, saving lives and reducing pressure on the NHS. The Challenge Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Scotland, with around […]
Sarah Xi Bonham-Yang: Changing careers from teaching to data science
Sarah Xi Bonham-Yang is an ex-special needs teacher now Financial Crime Insight Analyst passionate about neurodiversity in the workplace. She joined The Data Lab Community to find a mentor while undertaking a data analysis bootcamp with CodeClan to change careers from teaching. We spoke to Sarah about the value of The Data Lab Community and […]