Data Science and Innovation Accelerator

Description

The Data Science and Innovation Accelerator is a programme for public sector organisations in Scotland designed to support the innovative use of data to solve real-world business problems or discover new opportunities. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants can dedicate one day each week to work on their project, receiving guidance from a mentor who offers both strategic advice and technical expertise to help refine and advance the idea.

What does a typical Accelerator project look like?

There is no typical Accelerator project but there are some common features that we’ve observed in projects over the years:

• A genuine user need, a business challenge, or opportunity related to data
• An idea that would benefit from focused exploration, with the potential to produce an output such as a prototype or reproducible model over 12 weeks.
• An applicant with a desire to improve their technical data skills
• A manager who is enthusiastic about the project and can support and protect time for the applicant to work on their project
• Organisations that have an appetite for change and see the benefits of building greater technical capability amongst their workforce
• An openness to working in a concentrated, short time frame to prototype and test ideas following Agile principles

How might I benefit from the programme?

Participants consistently tell us that they really improve their technical skills which is often their main reason for applying to the programme. What they also tell us is that they gain stronger project management skills and feel more confident in their communications and stakeholder engagement as a result of taking part.

Here is some feedback from 2 previous participants:

“Thank you all for the opportunity to participate! It was such a refreshing change from the work routine and really allowed us to learn something new and work with interesting people – I looked forward to the mentor and cohort sessions every week”

“It helped build my confidence in explaining complex issues, reaching out to new stakeholders and work with a dataset I am unfamiliar with. The programme brought a wonderful opportunity to meet people and develop new skills which I will continue to use.”

How might my organisation benefit from the programme?

The Accelerator provides organisations with a low-cost, low-risk opportunity to explore new ideas while building valuable skills and capabilities. Participants have shared that the insights gained from Accelerator projects have helped them assess their data maturity and identify steps for improvement. Joining the programme also equips managers with the evidence needed to initiate discussions with senior leaders, strengthening the case for enhancing technical skills or better addressing user needs. Additionally, the Accelerator fosters connections within Scotland’s broader public sector data ecosystem, opening doors to further collaboration and continued learning. In essence, the Accelerator supports organisations in their long-term journey of data innovation and transformation, with the 12-week program serving as just the starting point.

What data can I use?

The aim of the Accelerator is to support the innovative use of data by the public sector in Scotland. We recommend that you consider developing your project with data that you can already access and share easily and safely. Doing so means you can share data with your mentor during the programme and there would be no restrictions when it comes to reporting on your project. Previous projects have had impressive results using pre-published, open data and then used that learning to develop models for use on more sensitive data.

If you cannot use data already in the public domain, you would be responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions to access, use and potentially share the data required before the start of the programme in September 2025. Please consider that you may need to share data with your mentor as well as reporting on your project in the final presentation in December 2025.

If your project proposes to process information which is personal or personal sensitive, as defined under data protection legislation, you’ll need to have the permission of the Data Controller to process that data.  You’ll also need to have a Data Protection Impact Assessment or Privacy Impact Assessment in place by the start of the Accelerator.

What software can I use?

Accelerator projects typically use open-source programming languages such as R or Python. We suggest that you consider using analytical tools that are already used in your organisation as that will help make the longer-term adoption of your project more likely. We encourage participants using programming languages to use version control for their code using Git and to share their code using Git Hub (as appropriate).

We can also offer access to an analytical workbench which provides a secure environment with permission controlled virtual machines provided by the University of Edinburgh. The analytical workbench has a wide range of tools available, and you can download other software as required.

What public sector organisations have you worked with?

Here are some of the organisations that have taken part in the Accelerator:

Blogs by previous participants:

• National Records of Scotland: It’s about the journey not the destination
• Public Health Scotland: How the Data Science Accelerator sparked a solution to meet a Covid data challenge
• Scottish Legal Complaints Commission: Uncovering trends in text through the Data Science Accelerator
• Transport Scotland: Leveraging new technologies to shape innovative engineering solutions

Who can apply?

You must be permanently employed by a Scottish public sector organisation in a role that requires strong data or analytical skills. Typically, these roles might include data analyst, statisticians, data scientist, economists, researchers, data, or information manager.

You can apply as an individual or make a joint application with one other person. Being part of a team on the Accelerator can mean that your project progresses more quickly. It also means that the learning from the programme is shared amongst more people in your organisation.

We will ask your employer to provide written support for the project application.

Fees and funding

There is no charge for taking part in the Accelerator. The programme is fully funded by our sponsors – The Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, National Records of Scotland, and Registers of Scotland. The programme is delivered in partnership with The Data Lab and the Scottish Digital Academy.

How to apply

The first step is to register with the Scottish Digital Academy via the registration link at the top of the page. You’ll then receive an email with a link to an online application form to complete and submit.

Additional information

Key dates for 2025 cohort

Applications open – 17 March 2025

Applications close –  28 April 2025

Selection and feedback – By 30 June 2025

Mentor assigned  – August 2025

Programme begins – 3 September 2025

Programme ends – 3 December 2025