Partnership project set to put the Scottish geospatial sector on the map

The Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator Project has been developed in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and the UK Government Geospatial Commission.

Geospatial data, which is data linked to location, underpins our public services such as emergency planning, building our homes, protecting our environment, supporting our transport and helping our security services to keep us safe.

Optimat will enhance the use of location-based data across Scotland, including:

• Helping to build a dedicated network of geospatial organisations across Scotland
• Boosting collaboration, knowledge sharing and the profile of the Scottish sector
• Developing the supply chain and signposting to potential growth opportunities

Scotland has a healthy geospatial sector but research by Scottish Enterprise has shown that more support is needed to encourage greater cooperation in the geospatial sector.

The new project will help to unlock part of the estimated £11 billion of value to the UK’s economy each year from geospatial services. The new network is also a key commitment of the UK’s Geospatial Strategy that was launched in June 2020.

The Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator will work to:

• Build a community of businesses and organisations working on location-based data
• Raise awareness of the Scottish geospatial sector to other economic sectors, including promoting how location-based data can benefit tourism, food, drink and agriculture
• Signpost geospatial companies to support and economic growth opportunities
• Further develop the Scottish geospatial supply chain by identifying and bringing organisations together who can help develop geospatial technologies

UK Geospatial Commission director Thalia Baldwin said: “Realising the UK’s national geospatial strategy requires collective effort, connecting policy, data, people and systems and today’s announcement demonstrates how we can work on shared goals with both Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government to grow Scotland’s geospatial and wider data community.”

Head of digital economy at Scottish Enterprise Ian Blewett added: “Location data is used across society: from governments taking infrastructure decisions; shipping companies planning logistics; to public health. The recent use of data around Covid 19 tracking is bringing the value of geospatial data into sharp focus too.

“The Network Integrator project will bring together businesses, public sector and academia to create opportunities for innovation to benefit not only the economy, but also society, with data as an intrinsic part of efficient and impactful decision making.

“Scotland is well placed due to having many sectors that depend on geospatial data as well as a strong established ecosystem. Not only that, but the development taking place in the space sector around the creation and use of Earth observation data adds to the wealth of geospatial data that continues to drive forward innovation. This excellent partnership being delivered by Optimat on behalf of the UK Geospatial Commission, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise will build on this and support future growth.”

Optimat senior consultant Dr Ashley Stewart added: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Enterprise and the wider geospatial sector in Scotland in the role of Network Integrator.  Having previously undertaken an industry research into this sector to determine the appetite for, and scale and nature of, a geospatial cluster, we are looking forward to working with the key partners and integrators to clearly identify and build a cluster of innovative Scottish businesses, academics and public bodies to identify emerging opportunities in this exciting and evolving sector.”

The network integrator project forms an essential part of the Scottish Geospatial Action Plan.

The Scottish Government has developed a Scottish Geospatial Strategy and Action Plan across three key areas: data, innovation and skills with the network integrator project forming an essential element of the action plan and wider ambitions of the UK Geospatial Commission.

Chief data officer at the Scottish Government Albert King said: “The Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator project is an opportunity to promote the innovation and entrepreneurship that exists within the growing geospatial and space sectors in Scotland.

“The use of accurate location data is proving invaluable in the Scottish Government’s fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19), exemplifying how the use of location data can help save time, money and lives.

“Scotland is already seen as a thriving and innovative place to conduct geospatial business. This initiative will help drive further investment in our world leading tech industries, which are providing high value, skilled jobs and have an important role to play in Scotland’s sustainable economic recovery.”

For more information regarding the Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator contact: geospatialNWI@optimat.co.uk