MSP Derek hails digital tech scheme
Renfrewshire MSP Derek McKay is hailing digital technology for boosting public sector services.
New firm CivTech wants to match up digital innovators with public services following a successful pilot programme last year.
This saw smaller tech firms working in partnership with the likes of SEPA, the NHS and Transport Scotland.
It led to a new flood forecasting system, smart road monitoring software and a fundraising service for homeless people enabling them to raise and access emergency funding.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay said: “Scotland is highly regarded around the world for innovation.
“We have some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds based here on our own doorstep, so it makes perfect sense to tap into that talent to help the public sector work faster and smarter.
“If we want to be a world leader in tech, we need to create conditions that allow companies to thrive and that includes enabling new ways of working, such as streamlining the public sector procurement processes and working in a more agile, fast-paced way.”
Improvements in the pipeline include a smarter booking system for NHS outpatient appointments, building Scotland’s brand for Scottish Enterprise, tracking visitors for Historic Environment Scotland and combating bird of prey attacks for Scottish National Heritage.