Obashi Technology Ltd. (Obashi), has become the first Scottish company, and only the sixth UK company, to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Innovators Community and its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Innovators Community is a select, by invitation-only group of the world’s most promising start-ups
and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public and private sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency.
The World Economic Forum recognised that understanding dataflow is fundamental to shaping and advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Their recently published white paper – “A Roadmap for Cross-Border Data Flows: Future-Proofing Readiness and Cooperation in the New Data Economy” suggests that nations will not be able to harness the social and economic benefits of the fourth industrial revolution if they do not understand their data flows.
“Cross-border data flows policy is a foundational prerequisite to a functioning international data economy” – World Economic Forum, A Roadmap for Cross-Border Data Flows: Future-Proofing Readiness and Cooperation in the New Data Economy
There is now a growing understanding around the world that the flow of data must be treated like every other utility – the flow of water, flow of electricity, and the flow of oil & gas. All of these flows need to be understood, and the flow of data is no different.
“We are delighted to have Obashi join our Global Innovators Community,” says Sheila Warren, Head of Blockchain, Digital Assets and Data Policy at the World Economic Forum. “We are excited to work with Obashi within the Data Policy Platform given their focus on data flows as a key to accessing the opportunities of the new global data economy”
Obashi helps people see data flow.
Obashi has created a flexible dataflow governance model that allows governments, businesses and other organisations to understand and unlock their dataflow potential. No matter the industry sector, Obashi’s Dataflow Methodology and technology platform enables users to see how data flows through their organisation’s people, processes, and technology.
Recognising that understanding dataflow is relatively new to industry, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) partnered with Obashi to develop dataflow units in its Higher National qualifications in Computing, Cyber Security and Business. The units introduce learners to a methodology of mapping digital dataflow in a business environment and are currently being delivered across colleges in Scotland.
Obashi is also working closely with the University of Glasgow on various on projects including simulating socio-technical behaviours within large scale complex systems, and with the University of Strathclyde on global Regtech and Fintech challenges.
A professional accreditation for Obashi’s Dataflow Methodology is also available worldwide via APMG International Ltd.
“Dataflow underpins every industry on the planet, and it’s exciting and heartening to now see it being recognised as a vital global utility and a key component part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Fergus Cloughley, CEO of Obashi. “We’re delighted to be the first Scottish company to begin collaborating with the World Economic Forum and other technology leaders as part of the Global Innovator’s Community.”
As part of the Global Innovators Community, Obashi will help define the global agenda on key issues with a particular focus on shaping the future of technology governance – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a World Economic Forum hub for global, multi-stakeholder cooperation to develop policy frameworks and advance collaborations that accelerate the benefits of science and technology.