Scotland could receive billions of pounds in tech investment after the launch of an AI Growth Zone, the UK Government says.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said that this initiative would position Scotland at the “forefront of the UK’s technological revolution”.
This announcement forms part of the UK Government’s Compute Roadmap, pledging £1 billion to augment the nation’s AI research resource by twenty times over the next five years.
Several potential locations for the AI Growth Zone – expected to expedite the deployment of crucial infrastructure such as data centres – have already been pinpointed in Scotland.
The aim is that researchers and businesses based at these centres will be able to process vast quantities of data, leading to the next wave of breakthroughs and innovations. These could potentially include discovering new methods to treat and conquer diseases, accelerating the diagnosis of conditions like cancer, and even utilising AI in the battle against climate change.
The confirmation of an AI Growth Zone for Scotland follows the UK Government’s announcement of £750 million funding to construct the UK’s new national supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh.
As part of the Compute Roadmap, ministers have also confirmed that the capital will host the UK’s first National Supercomputing Centre.
This will serve as a dedicated hub of expertise, with individual sites accommodating everything from large data sets to state-of-the-art processing power.
Peter Kyle, the Secretary for Science, Innovation and Technology, stated: “From the shipyards of the Clyde to developments in steam engine technology, Scottish trailblazers were central to the industrial revolution.
“AI is this generation’s next great industrial leap, so who better to help drive that change than a nation with innovation hardwired in its DNA. We’ve set out an ambitious plan to cement our position as a global leader in AI, with Scotland set to play a key role – unlocking fresh investment and new opportunities. That’s how we’re putting our Plan for Change into action.
“This is a landmark moment and will place Scotland at the forefront of the UK’s technological revolution.
“The up to £750 million investment in Edinburgh’s new supercomputer also places Scotland at the cutting edge of computing power globally.
“This will see Scotland playing a leading role in creating breakthroughs that have a global benefit – such as new medicines, health advances, and climate change solutions.”
Source: Scottish Business Insider