Scotland: A Good Global Citizen - a Scottish perspective on climate, defence, security and external affairs

Science, Technology and Data

Scotland is a science nation; science is a key part of Scotland's future wellbeing, and Scotland's world-leading research base benefits our economy, people and environment. Science, technology and data impact on all aspects of our lives, with space becoming increasingly important as a means for technological discovery and scientific breakthrough. Science and scientific advice inform the work of the Scottish Government, and as a nation we continue to build on a legacy of science, engineering and innovation. Scientific research carried out in Scotland is cutting edge and among the best in the world, and Scotland continues to be a keen partner in international research collaborations. Scotland attracts scientists and investors from around the world because of the science being done here and they contribute to sustaining and extending our links with other nations through science. However, the UK Government's new immigration policy risks pricing the UK out of the global market for top scientific talent.

A report published in 2019 by the Scottish Science Advisory Council^[2] found that the productivity, quantity and quality of Scottish science and research are significantly above the UK average. Scotland's researchers are highly productive, having the highest number of publications per researcher amongst all UK nations and comparator countries^[3]. In addition, Scotland's research is high quality, having the highest number of citations per researcher out of the UK and all other comparator nations; 27% higher than the nearest comparator (Wales) and 63% ahead of the UK average.

The report also highlights that Scottish researchers are highly mobile and create a greater academic impact when collaborating internationally. Scotland has nine universities in the World Top 200 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for International Outlook, demonstrating a greater global view than other parts of the UK.

Scotland's photonics (the physical science of light) and quantum technology expertise supports multiple market sectors, including aerospace and defence, energy, healthcare and industrial manufacturing. Scottish universities and businesses are at the forefront of research and development and supply chains of quantum technologies (including sensors, quantum imaging, quantum communications and quantum computing). This includes sensors and applications for the UK space sector (next generation satellites and manufacturing satellite Quantum Key Distribution^[4] payloads), commercialising quantum technology batteries for the electric vehicles industry, environmental sensing and medical technology. Other work being led in Scotland is looking at how to improve the size, strength and reliability of quantum components for advanced manufacturing to support opportunities in existing markets, such as navigation and situational awareness, communications and computing, as well as future markets such as global open finance.

The Scottish Government believes that joint work on space can be a force for good, as set out on page 13, and is an area that facilitates and exemplifies international cooperation for the benefit of all humankind, with commonly shared global objectives. Space activity has obvious environmental benefits, but we recognise the important contribution that space currently, and will increasingly, make to other parts of the economy and society through, for example, the provision of secure communications and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities.

Scotland has a versatile and adaptable space sector with close collaboration between government, industry and academia. There is an innovative and diverse engineering base with companies competing in international markets. Scotland is in a great place to consolidate these existing strengths to inspire skills development and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) take up. The growing space sector focuses upon high-tech, highly skilled and research and development intensive areas. Scotland has huge potential "downstream" opportunities from satellite launch, focussed around applications and data, aligning with Scotland's leading university programmes such as Edinburgh University's Data Driven Innovation Programme and Strathclyde University and Glasgow University's Innovation Districts.

Data

Like science and technology, data is integral to building domestic resilience and tackling global challenges. The Scottish Government's vision is to maximise the benefits that data innovation brings. Data should be used systematically to improve decision making, saving time, money and lives and to create social, economic and environmental value. That is why data is at the heart of the renewal of Scotland's Digital Strategy as a key enabler to create services that work for all and a digital and data economy that is robust, inclusive and resilient. The Scottish Government is promoting Scotland internationally as a growing and dynamic country at the heart of the data revolution, underpinned by investment in skills, infrastructure and a breadth of experience in sectors offering the greatest global opportunities such as space, energy and fintech.

The Scottish Government recognises that data is integral to creating a resilient economy and to supporting economic and social recovery after COVID-19. Having an impressive set of high quality public sector data and the largest concentration of internationally significant and world-leading informatics research in the UK, Scotland has the potential to realise this opportunity. The Scottish Government is making strategic investments to make Scotland the best place for data innovation and artificial intelligence (AI). This includes investing £13m for phase 2 of The Data Lab and £60m alongside funding from the UK Government in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Deal. Research Data Scotland, launched in May 2020, will provide support for researchers to access and use data about people, places and businesses in a secure setting for public benefit and help to attract investment to Scotland.

As an ethical digital nation, the Scottish Government recognises that use of data and digital technology raises important new ethical and moral questions. To be able to influence the decisions made in international arenas Scotland must be recognised internationally as an ethical digital nation and have the confidence to engage with citizen groups, regulators, companies, academics and other governments at a global level. The Scottish Government is building public trust in the use of data and making more data openly available.

Scotland's AI Strategy, published in March 2021, has a vision that Scotland will become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI. In delivering on this vision, the Scottish Government will develop Scotland's AI ecosystem through collective leadership, strengthened foundations and building an AI powerhouse that will be a place to collaborate, innovate, and support successful development and adoption. The Scottish Government "AI for Good" programme is investing in data driven solutions to climate change, medical imaging and solving the challenges facing children nationally and globally. Together, these investments and values-based approach to data-driven innovation are helping to position Scotland as a leader in data for good and are helping to foster partnerships with those who share our values.

Much of the responsibility for data lies in sectors such as health, and policy issues such as data standards, that are devolved. However, many matters, such as data protection and much of social security, are reserved. This makes it important to recognise the need to work across the UK on many of these issues to ensure we all benefit from access to data on our residents wherever they may be held. Building the data infrastructure that can support data sharing and use between public bodies across the UK requires that investment and collaboration reflect this. The Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations should be involved as partners in important programmes enabling data on our citizens to be used appropriately, ethically and securely.