The Data Lab

Last weekend, we were proud to sponsor the #RGUHack at Robert Gordon University.

For 24 hours, students from across disciplines rolled up their sleeves, took on real-world challenges and built impressive solutions under pressure.

To every team that took on the challenge: you were brilliant!

SGSSS Summer Internships 2026 – Applications Open!

🌟𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐛

@thedatalab.bsky.social is Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI. Their vision is to foster a more prosperous and equitable society where the responsible use of data and AI empowers everyone to thrive.

🎙️ Why do so many promising innovations never make it beyond the pilot stage?

Our Head of Skills, Anna, joins Gavin (BE-ST), Liz (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre), and Janette (DHI) to explore what it takes to move innovation from idea to adoption.

🎧 Watch: https://ow.ly/wzrO50YlLBt

🚨 DataFest speaker announcement: Dr. Julia Stamm

Award-winning founder of She Shapes AI, Julia is on a mission to ensure that technology is shaped by diverse voices and designed to solve real-world problems.

🎟️Ticket prices rise tomorrow at 11:30 PM: https://ow.ly/pM3C50YmnkT

DataFest 2026 is fast approaching...

Join us for 2 days of world-class speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and networking opportunities across sectors and industries.

Have you secured your ticket yet? Prices go up on Tuesday at 11:30 PM!

🎟️ https://ow.ly/eEjs50YkT1w

🚨 DataFest speaker: Colin Ife

Head of AI Risk at Geordie AI, Colin has deep expertise in data-driven threat protection, ML infrastructure, & AI strategy. His work bridges cutting-edge research and real-world security impact.

Ticket prices rise Tues: https://ow.ly/EUvF50Ymjlu

🚨 Extension

The survey exploring the potential for a Scotland-wide AI Cluster now closes 18 March.

This is your chance to help influence what happens next for AI collaboration, innovation & growth.

Have your say for a chance to win one of three £30 vouchers: https://ow.ly/1JmO50Y4MH2

New datacentres risk doubling Great Britain’s electricity use, regulator says Ofgem says about 140 proposed projects, driven by AI use, could require more power than current peak demand

New data centre projects in the UK could require more electricity than the country’s current peak demand.

Around 140 proposed schemes could require up to 50GW of power, raising questions about grid capacity, decarbonisation targets and infrastructure planning.

🔗 https://ow.ly/eBhc50Yl4Pu

🚀 An intro to AI and its opportunities

Designed for leaders in SMEs or social enterprises, this online session will help you build awareness & leadership capacity around adopting AI. Explore trends, risks, & practical opportunities to grow.

🗓️ 4 March (10-11AM)
🔗: https://ow.ly/qAux50Y4M7b

🎙️ Behind the scenes recording the CLIC podcast series where Anna had a fantastic time contributing to 3 episodes!

Pictured with Anna: Janette (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre) Gavin (Built Environment - Smarter Transformation) and Liz (iBoC).

Watch episode 1 here: https://ow.ly/PpIx50Yi01b

⏰ Deadline next Friday! Organisations have just 7 days left to submit project proposals for our Student Placement Programme. Whether you're exploring data visualisation, predictive analytics or AI-driven solutions, we can help.

📅 27 Feb
👉 partners@thedatalab.com
https://ow.ly/E51950Y4LY0

A Comparative Study of Digital Skills Frameworks to Support the Innovation Economy in Scotland - Scottish Graduate School of Social Science The Data Lab’s Data and AI Skills Framework is a tool for individuals and organisations to navigate future workforce development. The framework focuses on the skills people need, rather than job title...

📢 PhD Research Opportunity

The Data Lab is offering a research internship: A Comparative Study of Digital Skills Frameworks to Support Scotland’s Innovation Economy.

⏳ 3 months FT / 6 months PT (hybrid)
🗓 Apply by 4 pm, 9 March

More info: www.sgsss.ac.uk/internship/a...

Optimising Data Reporting for Foster Care Recruitment: From Paid Media to Placement This session forms part of an ongoing series of events in partnership with Scottish Government’s Data Division in which we explore interesting public sector projects and initiatives that highlight and showcase innovative uses of data and AI.     Councils and council-owned services often have to rely on Independent Fostering Agencies and expensive residential provision when they don’t have enough of their own foster carers.   Fostering recruitment is one of the most emotionally and socially complex areas in the public sector, yet marketing fostering to identify potential carers is...

Optimising Data Reporting for Foster Care Recruitment: From Paid Media to Placement

Join us to learn how paid media data and fostering service data can be used to support service improvements in foster care.

🗓️ 25 Feb
⏰ 13:00 - 13:50
👉 Register for free here: https://ow.ly/EmkX50Y4LTa

🚨 We're excited to welcome Amanda Brock (CEO, OpenUK) to the DataFest lineup! With 25+ years' experience shaping open source and internet law, Amanda is a recognised global voice on open technology and a champion of open source and open infrastructure.

Tickets here: https://ow.ly/KHUL50YhtiN

Scottish Councils Lead UK on AI Readiness Backed by a national framework, Scottish councils show higher AI and data maturity than most UK counterparts, including those in London.

Scottish councils are pulling ahead of the rest of the UK in their data maturity and AI readiness, according to a study by @heriotwattuni.bsky.social, with 70% of our local authorities achieving moderate or high readiness.

Read more from @digitfyi.bsky.social here: www.digit.fyi/scottish-cou...

⏰ Reminder! Our survey exploring the case for a Scotland-wide AI Cluster is open - but not for much longer. If you work with AI or are interested in shaping its future, we want your views.

Take part before it closes on 28 Feb for a chance to win one of three £30 vouchers: https://ow.ly/8myJ50Y4KKw

From Blank Page to Comms Campaign in Under 30 Minutes: A Live AI Build with Claude In this live, hands-on webinar, we’ll take something deliberately vague – a blank page and a rough, slightly chaotic communications brief – and turn it into a clear, structured comms campaign pack in under 30 minutes. Rather than talking about AI, the session shows it working in real time. Using Claude’s Project Folders and Skills, Michael MacLennan will build a practical communications workflow live on screen, demonstrating how strategy, messaging, and channel thinking can be developed quickly when AI is used with the right structure and constraints. Attendees will be invited to...

Join us for a webinar: From Blank Page to Comms Campaign in Under 30 Mins. Learn how to build a structured campaign using AI & learn how strategy, messaging, & channel thinking can be developed quickly when AI is used with the right structure.

🗓️ 18 Feb, 12:30-13:30
👉: https://ow.ly/nXA550Y4qaE

Are you ready to partner with the next generation of talent? 🧑‍🎓

Whether you’re in need of additional resource, or looking to add data-driven knowledge into your business, our MSc Placement Programme can help.

📅 Submit your proposal by 27 Feb
👉 partners@thedatalab.com

https://ow.ly/ppay50Y4pSZ

📢 Exhibit at DataFest 2026!

The DataFest exhibition is where Scotland’s data & AI ecosystem comes to life. Over 2 days, showcase your products, services, & ideas directly to 600+ delegates from across industry, academia, &the public sector.

Find out more here: https://datafest.global/exhibitors

🚀 An intro to AI & its opportunities: Exec briefing

Designed for leaders & managers in SMEs or social enterprises, this session will help you build awareness & leadership capacity around adopting AI. Explore trends, risks & opportunities to grow.

🗓️ 4 March (10–11AM)
🔗 : https://ow.ly/z39l50Y4psh

AI for Marketing 101 Curious about how AI can transform your marketing? AI for Marketing 101 is for anyone who wants to explore how to start using AI to work smarter, save time, and achieve better results - all without needing to be a tech expert.  You’ll gain insights into the current marketing landscape, see real-world examples of how AI is being used effectively, and discover the most common and impactful ways AI is applied in marketing today. Through practical insights, case studies, and even a live demo, you’ll explore how to use AI to support content creation, campaign planning, and performance...

Curious about how AI can transform your marketing?

Join our AI Marketing 101 webinar, where Caterina Coelho, Head of Marketing at Codebase, will explain how to use AI to work smarter, save time and achieve better results.

🗓️ 13 Feb
⏰ 12:30 - 13:20
👉 Register for free here: https://ow.ly/EYkF50Y4pgx

Our last meet-up brought together 300+ attendees to explore what 2026 holds for data & AI. In this blog, our Chair Nic reflects on the event - from agentic AI & skills to geopolitics & regulation.

👉 Read the blog: thedatalab.com/community/ne...
📺 Watch the recording: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4KI...

We’re exploring the potential for a Scotland-wide AI Cluster - bringing together industry, academia & the public sector.

Your insight will help identify where collaboration could unlock growth & impact.

Share your views for a chance to win one of three £30 vouchers: https://ow.ly/gRoE50Y4pel

🚨 New speaker for DataFest - Charles Smith, CMO for IBM, & one of Marketing Week’s Top 100 (2025). Charlie brings experience across marketing, digital & transformation, with previous roles at Aviva, Vodafone, NatWest, Ovo Energy & Scottish Development International.

🎟️ https://ow.ly/hfbh50Y9jmp

🤖 Prepare your team for an AI-driven world with our engaging 90-minute workshop, specifically designed for Scottish SMEs. Dive into The Data Lab Data and AI Skills Framework (2025) & start building pathways to upskill & reskill your workforce.

🗓️ 12 Feb – Online
👉: https://ow.ly/oNoH50Y4p0O

Ready to turn your research or creativity into an impactful business? Converge is now open for applications!

Open to staff, students & recent graduates across Scotland's universities, this is your chance to test & validate your idea in a safe space. Apply by 2 April https://ow.ly/14AR50Y8FeY

🚨 Calling Scottish organisations

Looking for data & AI support on industry projects? Gain access to Scotland's brightest students who can help move your projects forward via our MSc Placement Programme!

📅 Submit your project proposal by 27 Feb
👉 partners@thedatalab.com

https://ow.ly/zk3Y50Y4oMC

AI is already a key enabling technology for Scotland, driving innovation, productivity & economic growth across sectors.

We’re exploring whether a coordinated AI cluster could strengthen collaboration & scale impact.

Have your say in our short survey, closes 28 Feb: https://ow.ly/zsqV50Y4oH9

AI is changing marketing, but human insight, creativity, & good data are just as important. From personalised wine recommendations to debates over AI-generated fashion models, our latest blog explores how AI & people can work together to deliver campaigns that resonate.

👉 https://ow.ly/ezYp50Y5qIa

Controversial Glasgow mural 'will have nothing to do with AI' A suggested design for the wall was mocked and criticised online for its usage of AI, including having a bald eagle in the image - a bird not found in Scotland.

Glasgow’s Elmbank Street mural has stirred up some debate. 🖌️

The first draft, created with AI, included a floating train and what looked like a bald eagle - and locals on social media weren’t impressed.

Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/qPLq50Y3IjF