What Scotland can do for you
Scottish companies are doing smart things with data, digital and technology – developing intelligent, low carbon, sustainable solutions to help improve people’s lives and protect the planet.
Think you know Scotland?
Think again. Scotland is rethinking the future, driving a net-zero economy that works for all. Scotland is home to the world’s first tidal array, world’s first floating offshore wind farm and Europe’s largest hydrogen bus fleet...Scottish companies want to work with you.
Watch our video to find out more.
Innovative Scottish companies ready to work with your business
How we use data around the world is changing
Ecometrica is a pioneering example of an innovative Scottish space tech company helping to tackle global challenges, like deforestation and the climate crisis.
"It’s estimated that improved monitoring systems, which enable a more targeted approach, could help prevent the loss of four to six million hectares of forest over the next decade: that’s an area more than half the size of Scotland!"
Dr Richard Tipper, Executive Chairman of Ecometrica
Ecometrica is deploying its satellite data-gathering technology to help African Governments and the world’s cocoa companies in their battle to end deforestation caused by their supply chains.
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is an indoor agritech and commercial lighting business based in Scotland. IGS helps farmers have total remote control of any indoor climate allowing them to optimise the yield, quality and consistency of their crops. This creates a farm free from pesticides and diesel-powered vehicles. A farm where water is constantly recycled and crops aren’t washed in chlorinated water, substantially increasing their shelf-life.
“The pressures of climate change are real and clear, and our technology and systems play a part in addressing how we produce and supply food sustainably and productively all over the world. Our customers in the commercial property world are equally keen to adopt IOT-enabled smart lighting to create better indoor climates for their tenants and visitors alike.”
David Farquar, CEO, Intelligent Growth Solutions
IGS’s IOT-enabled systems power, handle and ventilate indoor farming, using artificial intelligence and machine learning without the need for unreliable computers.
More about Intelligent Growth Solutions
SoilEssentials is a Scottish company run by farmers for farmers harnessing technology, data and intelligence to help reduce the use of pesticides, reduce CO2 emissions and improve efficiency and yields. They are doing this both within Scotland and internationally (Europe and New Zealand).
Global Surface Intelligence is an Edinburgh-based company that harnesses earth observation data from space to provide crop and climate intelligence and solutions to help decision-makers manage natural resources and fight climate change.
Turning the tide
Orbital Marine Power are "thinking bigger" in Scotland with their new tidal power device - building the world’s most powerful, most technologically advanced tidal turbine. They're on a mission to provide millions of people across the world with a sustainable, reliable, predictable source of clean energy.
In this video, Andrew Scott, CEO and director of Orbital Marine Power shares his company's solution to low cost tidal stream energy.
Healthcare is undergoing a paradigm shift from reactive, in-hospital treatment, to proactive, community-based care
Scottish health tech company, Current Health is building a future where healthcare is delivered to a patient before they even become sick through its AI-powered remote patient monitoring platform.
Working with NHS Trust, Current Health has enabled a new form of clinical-decision support, allowing Dartford’s Hospital at Home team to prioritise therapy visits to patients who need clinical attention first.
As the capture of vital sign observations is completely automated by Current Health, unnecessary therapy visits have been minimised. This means the team can increase the number of patients they manage, further reducing hospitalisation and re-admissions and helping more patients get home and stay home.
“By helping healthcare providers treat patients preventively and at the earliest point, we can play a key role in enabling sustainable, high-quality and universal healthcare delivery.”
Christopher McCann, CEO, Current Health
The proliferation of technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and open banking is revolutionising the finance industry. Scotland's experience in the financial services sector goes back centuries. We’re now building on that expertise and leading the way in fintech solutions.
For example, see how well Scotland’s innovative fintech firms have mobilised and responded to the challenges arising from the COVID-19.
Scottish scientists at Arbikie Distillery claim to have developed the world's first "climate positive" gin, using garden peas. Arbikie Distillery in Angus said the production of its Nàdar Gin removes more carbon dioxide than it creates.
The Orkney Distillery is undertaking a feasibility study through the HySpirits project, led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), into the development of technology to enable them to use hydrogen as a fuel to decarbonise the distilling process in making gin.
“Working with a world class craft distillery, the HySpirits project blends tradition with innovation. Decarbonising the distilling process with green hydrogen derived from local renewables is a great example of the creative ways Orkney is addressing the challenges of the energy transition.”
Jon Clipsham, Hydrogen Manager at EMEC
Read more about the HySpirits project
Irn-Bru is going green. AG Barr, Scotland's manufacturer of leading soft drinks brands including Irn-Bru and Rubicon, plans to introduce fossil-free 'green' electricity to power its operations across the UK following a deal with Swedish energy group Vattenfall.
Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF is a collaboration between UNICEF, Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh, hosted by The Data Lab. The project draws on the skills and expertise of all partners to bring insight and solve problems using data and data science techniques.
The priority focus initially is on obesity, poverty and population dynamics to improve children’s lives across the globe.
Scottish tech company, Reshape Technology is helping reduce people’s carbon footprint one step at a time. It’s developed a fitness app for the planet…
“Our technology allows anyone carrying a mobile phone to measure and reduce their impact on climate change. It monitors daily activities, automatically calculates carbon footprint and displays it in an intuitive way.”
Anthony Magrath, founder, Reshape Technology
CuanTec is making waves in the fight against plastic pollution. This innovative Scottish company is simultaneously opening the potential of the sea and helping eradicate the more than 8.8 million tonnes of plastic that end up in our oceans each year.
Its revolutionary process transforms the waste from the fisheries industry into a flexible anti-microbial and compostable type of food packaging that will extend the shelf life of fresh food.
Celtic Renewables is a company using whisky biproducts to create sustainable biofuels that can one day replace fossil fuels.
The world’s largest zero-emission hydrogen flight test is to take place in Scotland
The HyFlyer project is a collaboration between Californian company, ZeroAvia and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. The EMEC, which produces green hydrogen from renewable energy, will supply the hydrogen required for flight tests and develop a mobile refuelling platform compatible with the aircraft.
The Scottish Government plans to decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040.
More about the HyFlyer project
11 hydrogen energy projects in Scotland shaping a greener future
Aberdeen-based green tech start-up, Trojan Energy, has secured a £4.1 million round of seed funding to support the roll-out of its on-street flat and flush electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
The new product aims to help solve the issue of charging for vehicle owners without access to off-street parking, which is currently a major barrier for electric vehicle uptake, particularly in urban areas.
Trojan Energy estimates that 10 million people park their vehicles on the street in the UK and 100 million in Europe. Switching to EV could potentially reduce European CO2 emissions by over 120 million tonnes per year.
One-to-one support
We're Scottish Development International, Scotland's trade and inward investment agency, ready to connect you to:
- Talent and skills you need to grow your business
- Financial support for your next big project
- Academia, suppliers and partners
- The best supply chain opportunities
More on ways we can support your business
Get in touch with our team
With a network of 30 international offices, you'll find a local Scottish Development International contact who can help you do business with Scotland. Whether that’s supporting your investment in Scotland, or helping you partner with Scottish companies.
We can also offer long-term support for your company through our dedicated account management service.
Call +44 300 013 2734
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