CivTech has announced its latest cohort of innovators set to use technology to solve real-life Challenges facing public and third sector organisations in Scotland.

The programme is announcing its successful 14 teams for CivTech 7, along with news about the successes of last year’s alumni. CivTech 6 alumni companies have already collectively received £2.5 million in follow-on contracts following their successes with the Scottish Government’s flagship Accelerator programme.

Three of the challenges have been co-sponsored by South of Scotland Enterprise focussed on energy efficiency, cycling infrastructure and town centre revitalisation.

The three SOSE co-sponsored Challenges

How can technology unlock the power of the bike, stimulating demand for cycling infrastructure and support South of Scotland communities?

Challenge Sponsor: South of Scotland Enterprise and Censis Technology Solutions

Challenge Winner: Sweco UK Ltd will develop an online support Toolkit that will combine digital route design, 3D visuals, and smart analysis to challenge the status quo of path construction by exploring the reuse of recycled materials, leveraging the opportunities in circular economy.

How can technology help communities and households understand their energy needs and work with local suppliers towards sustainable energy solutions?

Challenge Sponsor: South of Scotland Enterprise and Censis Technology Solutions

Challenge Winner: Two businesses have been invited to solve this Challenge together, Novoville and partners; and ZUoS Limited. Solutions will include support for communities to understand their energy demands and options for energy efficiency and decarbonisation while supporting community collective purchase.

How can we use technology to better understand the issues facing our town centres, and be a catalyst for revitalisation?

Challenge Sponsor: Scottish Borders Council and South of Scotland Enterprise

Challenge Winner: Diagonal Works’ solution will provide value to local councils by reducing the cost of baseline research, and improving outcomes by linking projects to strategic objectives at the start of the planning process.

What is CivTech?

CivTech is a Scottish Government programme that tackles challenges facing public sector organisations. Its aims are simple: to create better public services for citizens while boosting Scotland’s economy by helping innovative companies launch new products with global potential.

The latest Challenges have a strong focus on empowering communities, minority groups, and marginalised individuals, as well as including opportunities to help solve environmental problems, and improve transport infrastructure. The contract value available for each Challenge is between £350,000 and £800,000.

Companies and entrepreneurs from across the UK and beyond have been competing to win a place on the Scottish Government’s prestigious Seventh programme since its launch on 30 May.

The CivTech 7 Accelerator will provide the winning teams with an intense programme of workshops and support as they develop their products and businesses over a 15-week period. This means that all teams - whatever stage they’re at - have the best possible grounding to take their products forward.

What is next?

The CivTech Accelerator will culminate in a ‘Demo Day’ held in early February, where the selected teams pitch their newly developed products to an audience of several hundred people from across the public sector, the third sector and the private sector — including early stage investors.

Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise for Scotland

“The success of CivTech is incredible to see. The £6 million in extra funding from the Scottish Government this year has bolstered the Challenges and created some incredible opportunities for third sector organisations to get involved.

“It’s great to see such a broad range of Challenges met with exciting proposed solutions. In Scotland we need to be at the forefront of innovation to drive job creation and investment and to help tackle major global issues such as the climate emergency, biodiversity, care and wellbeing, and energy consumption.

"The CivTech programme plays a vital role in bringing the public and private sectors together in a collaborative effort to effect positive change.”