With the post-pandemic world and an increasingly digital future posing a number of unique challenges, The Data Lab has launched a digital community to help boost Scotland’s economic and social recovery.

The Data Lab’s mission is to support a data-driven future, working collaboratively with more than 1,500 companies, public sector organisations and universities. As part of this goal, its newest venture is the launch of a digital community, which will provide a platform for thought leadership, learning and collaboration in data science.

The Data Lab Community is an online space aimed at bringing together data and AI professionals – from students to industry leaders – to further data innovation. The community will host events, online learning courses, and a mentoring programme to help combat the current IT skills shortage across Scotland and the wider UK.

The community also aims to contribute to Scotland’s post-Covid-19 recovery. With the pandemic changing the way businesses operate, and many increasingly turning to digital technologies to survive, The Data Lab Community will support businesses navigate the waters of their digital transformations, offering a means of access to new ideas and best practice.

Following a pilot programme, the community is now available to join.

“As Scotland, and the world, moves into recovery and growth, The Data Lab’s mission to help the nation maximise the economic and social value from data and AI has never been so important,” said Brian Hills, Deputy CEO and Head of Service Design at The Data Lab.

“The launch of The Data Lab Community plays a big part in delivering our ambition – enabling us to scale collaboration and skills development anchored in our values of innovation, growth, support and respect.

“There is a tremendous willingness in the data community to help others and The Data Lab Community will provide a catalyst for those who want to help others succeed with data and AI to connect and collaborate with those earlier in their digital journey, and help them accelerate their path to success. We’re already seeing fantastic feedback from users and have a waiting list of people and companies keen to join the digital community to encourage innovation and share best practice.”

Rich Wilson, Founder and CEO of Scottish tech start-up Gigged.AI, added: “The Data Lab Community is a brilliant idea. It is a place for those involved in data and AI to network and share ideas, no matter where their business is on its digital transformation journey. The forum and jobs sections are great for our business, and we can see this driving real value in the industry. It is also rare to find a platform where the public and private sector can network together. I would definitely recommend any business that is looking to grow its digital capabilities makes use of the platform.”