CivTech scheme helps innovative SMEs to solve public-service challenges
Credit: PxHere
The Scottish Government has announced that £10m will be awarded this year via its public sector-focused tech accelerator.
The CivTech programme invites bidders to propose technological solutions to challenges set by public- and third-sector bodies in Scotland.
Successful proposals are then supported via an intensive programme intended to enable the creation of a prototype solution, while providing SME firms with guidance and support to help grow their business in the future.
At the initiative’s annual Demo Day event in Edinburgh this week, business minister Ivan McKee told attendees that the Scottish Government will support the scheme with £46m in funding over the next four years.
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Companies that have participated in the programme to date have reportedly secured about £67m in collective investment while creating 320 new jobs.
McKee said: “CivTech has grown enormously since it first launched, and with it, the Scottish Government has grown its investment in this extraordinary accelerator programme. I am pleased to announce £10m in Scottish Government funding for Challenges over the next year, and with match funding from Challenge Sponsors, we do expect that pot to increase the total spent on innovation at CivTech to over £12m in 2023-2024
He added: “Not only does this accelerator demonstrate that the public and third sector can lead the way in solving problems, it shows we can also do it quickly. The tech companies creating the bespoke solutions for CivTech Challenges are often part of an ever-growing community of digital innovators across Scotland, and we can take a lot of pride in the Scottish Government playing an active role in that community.”
