Project which monitors puffins among innovations awarded Government cash

A project that can help monitor puffins and technology which can help teachers are both to receive funding from the Scottish Government scheme.

Up to £9 million is being handed out to 14 companies working in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in the latest round of funding as part of the CivTech programme.

The scheme aims to help charities and public sector organisations deal with problems, but this latest round of funding is the first to focus on AI.

It will see cash go towards a project that is using drones and an automated mapping system to monitor puffin populations in a less invasive way.

In addition, an AI system which can help teachers with administrative tasks, and software that aims to identify toxic contaminants in a bid to reduce cancer risks amongst firefighters are also being supported.

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.”

With CivTech having been operating since 2016, the scheme has already invested £20 million, helping 90 companies and entrepreneurs.

These include software company Volunteero which developed a mobile app to help charities manage administrative tasks.

Rebekah MacLeod, from White Ribbon Scotland, which works to combat violence against women, said that this had “completely changed how we work as a charity”.

She added the Volunteroo app “means we spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time working with men and boys to directly address violence against women and girls”.