DDI Initiative case studies Fri, 06 Mar 2026 07:37:42 -0500 https://ddicasestudies.buzzsprout.com en © 2026 DDI Initiative case studies yes cfd710b5-00e1-5a46-98f3-1ba3819cf158 DDI initiative case studies episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) DDI initiative case studies https://storage.buzzsprout.com/rrtscc1qv4ig5e2pyl48cxw88yoo?.jpg DDI Initiative case studies Aegon and University of Edinburgh KTP Aegon and University of Edinburgh KTP We all know we should be saving for our future, but it’s hard to visualise ourselves in 20 or 30 years, especially when our costs today are so high.


Financial services company Aegon has been interested in the human behaviours behind financial decisions for years, but has recently taken a novel approach.


A Knowledge Transfer Partnership or KTP between Aegon and the University of Edinburgh, brokered by the Edinburgh Futures Institute, is exploring what makes us connect with our future selves in a meaningful way.


This just one example that funding from the DDI can have.


Kim McAllister talked to Tom Mathar from Aegon’s Centre for Behavioural Research, Professor Tina Harrison from the University of Edinburgh’s Business School and Emily Shipp, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate, to hear more.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> We all know we should be saving for our future, but it’s hard to visualise ourselves in 20 or 30 years, especially when our costs today are so high.


Financial services company Aegon has been interested in the human behaviours behind financial decisions for years, but has recently taken a novel approach.


A Knowledge Transfer Partnership or KTP between Aegon and the University of Edinburgh, brokered by the Edinburgh Futures Institute, is exploring what makes us connect with our future selves in a meaningful way.


This just one example that funding from the DDI can have.


Kim McAllister talked to Tom Mathar from Aegon’s Centre for Behavioural Research, Professor Tina Harrison from the University of Edinburgh’s Business School and Emily Shipp, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate, to hear more.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15820322 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 1585 full false Safely making free-text notes available for health research Safely making free-text notes available for health research Health care data plays a pivotal role in transformative discoveries and enhancing patient outcomes. However, the journey to harness the full potential of health data is not without its challenges, such as those posed by clinical free-text records (including hospital discharge summaries and GP notes). These records hold valuable health-related information that sometimes cannot be found in coded - also known as structured - data. However, unlike coded data, free-text notes also contain sensitive information such as details of a patient that have the potential to make them identifiable. 


Natural language processing (frequently called NLP) is an approach that can be applied to extracts of these data to ensure they are made safe and secure before granting researchers' access. Exploring this area is Arlene Casey, who is a Dunhill Medical Trust Senior Research Fellow and the Principal NLP data scientist at DataLoch, which is a data service that provides access to extracts of data to approved researchers for projects in the public interest. Arlene's focus is on how free-text records could be processed to ensure people's identities are kept secure while enabling the data to be safely used for research. Integral to this development work is consulting with the public and being open and transparent in the methods used by DataLoch. Recently, DataLoch partnered with Ipsos Scotland in an initiative to undertake public consultation of privacy risk assessment in clinical free-text. 


In this podcast, Arlene and Ciaran Mulholland from Ipsos Scotland discuss a novel public consultation that has informed the decisions made by Arlene and her colleagues.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Health care data plays a pivotal role in transformative discoveries and enhancing patient outcomes. However, the journey to harness the full potential of health data is not without its challenges, such as those posed by clinical free-text records (including hospital discharge summaries and GP notes). These records hold valuable health-related information that sometimes cannot be found in coded - also known as structured - data. However, unlike coded data, free-text notes also contain sensitive information such as details of a patient that have the potential to make them identifiable. 


Natural language processing (frequently called NLP) is an approach that can be applied to extracts of these data to ensure they are made safe and secure before granting researchers' access. Exploring this area is Arlene Casey, who is a Dunhill Medical Trust Senior Research Fellow and the Principal NLP data scientist at DataLoch, which is a data service that provides access to extracts of data to approved researchers for projects in the public interest. Arlene's focus is on how free-text records could be processed to ensure people's identities are kept secure while enabling the data to be safely used for research. Integral to this development work is consulting with the public and being open and transparent in the methods used by DataLoch. Recently, DataLoch partnered with Ipsos Scotland in an initiative to undertake public consultation of privacy risk assessment in clinical free-text. 


In this podcast, Arlene and Ciaran Mulholland from Ipsos Scotland discuss a novel public consultation that has informed the decisions made by Arlene and her colleagues.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15806050 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 1225 full false Student Challenge Projects at EFI Student Challenge Projects at EFI Work experience for students can take many forms, and Edinburgh Futures Institute is pushing the boundaries by running a project to embed it into final year study.


The Student Challenge projects pair students with businesses with a goal of tackling real life problems. The companies get access to high-level research and the students gets hands on experience.


One such project involved Discover airlines, part of the Lufthansa group. Students tackled issues around the circular economy and the recycling of textiles used in aircraft.


This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 


Kim McAllister talked to Jule Klein, from Discover, and Vlada Kravtsova from Edinburgh Futures Institute, to hear more.




The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Work experience for students can take many forms, and Edinburgh Futures Institute is pushing the boundaries by running a project to embed it into final year study.


The Student Challenge projects pair students with businesses with a goal of tackling real life problems. The companies get access to high-level research and the students gets hands on experience.


One such project involved Discover airlines, part of the Lufthansa group. Students tackled issues around the circular economy and the recycling of textiles used in aircraft.


This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 


Kim McAllister talked to Jule Klein, from Discover, and Vlada Kravtsova from Edinburgh Futures Institute, to hear more.




The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15773506 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 871 full false Quantum Computing for Financial Services Quantum Computing for Financial Services Quantum computing is a complex area that’s developing rapidly. In order for industry needs and academic research to keep pace with one another, strategic partnerships have to form where each learns to speak the other’s language.


NatWest and the Edinburgh Futures Institute have established just such a partnership, with very successful outcomes.


This just one example that funding from the DDI can have.


Kim McAllister talked to Phoebe Choi from NatWest, quantum computing Professor Chris Heunen and Tobias Schneider from the Edinburgh Futures Institute to hear more

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Quantum computing is a complex area that’s developing rapidly. In order for industry needs and academic research to keep pace with one another, strategic partnerships have to form where each learns to speak the other’s language.


NatWest and the Edinburgh Futures Institute have established just such a partnership, with very successful outcomes.


This just one example that funding from the DDI can have.


Kim McAllister talked to Phoebe Choi from NatWest, quantum computing Professor Chris Heunen and Tobias Schneider from the Edinburgh Futures Institute to hear more

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15623352 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 979 full false Winter school Winter school Skills in computer programming are required more and more on degree courses, but often the course lecturers are not trained specifically to deliver.

That’s why the winter school was designed.

In recognition of the fact that many lecturers are self-taught programmers, Kasia Banas and her team at the Usher Institute designed a one day conference to bring together a variety of subject experts to share skills and knowledge.

This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 

Kim McAllister talked to Kasia and one of the delegates from the conference, Tobias, to find out more about the event.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Skills in computer programming are required more and more on degree courses, but often the course lecturers are not trained specifically to deliver.

That’s why the winter school was designed.

In recognition of the fact that many lecturers are self-taught programmers, Kasia Banas and her team at the Usher Institute designed a one day conference to bring together a variety of subject experts to share skills and knowledge.

This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 

Kim McAllister talked to Kasia and one of the delegates from the conference, Tobias, to find out more about the event.


The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15576454 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 811 full false Advai and EPCC on testing AI models Advai and EPCC on testing AI models The use of artificial intelligence, or AI, is the subject of much discussion. As we rely more and more on automating tasks and making data-driven decisions, AI becomes a big part of the solution. But it only works when its models are trained using high quality data.

One partnership between industry and academia is testing the limits of AI models.

Tech company Advai has been using the supercomputing power at the EPCC at the University of Edinburgh to run the models on huge datasets, with potentially far-reaching results.

This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 


Kim McAllister talked to Chris Jefferson, the cofounder of Advai and Professor Mark Parsons, the Director of EPCC, to hear more.




The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> The use of artificial intelligence, or AI, is the subject of much discussion. As we rely more and more on automating tasks and making data-driven decisions, AI becomes a big part of the solution. But it only works when its models are trained using high quality data.

One partnership between industry and academia is testing the limits of AI models.

Tech company Advai has been using the supercomputing power at the EPCC at the University of Edinburgh to run the models on huge datasets, with potentially far-reaching results.

This is just one example of the impact funding from the Data Driven Innovation initiative can have. 


Kim McAllister talked to Chris Jefferson, the cofounder of Advai and Professor Mark Parsons, the Director of EPCC, to hear more.




The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI initiative case studies Buzzsprout-15773339 Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400 1136 full false DDI Economic Development Opportunities - The Lothians DDI Economic Development Opportunities - The Lothians Project Lead Gemma Cassells and Lead author Matjaz Vidmar discuss the Lothians report and the potential for data driven innovation in East, West and Mid-Lothian.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Project Lead Gemma Cassells and Lead author Matjaz Vidmar discuss the Lothians report and the potential for data driven innovation in East, West and Mid-Lothian.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-14003909 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500 1670 full false DDI Ambassador Briana Pegado DDI Ambassador Briana Pegado DDI Ambassador Briana Pegado speaks to journalist Kim McAllister to explain why the arts and creative industries need to embrace data.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> DDI Ambassador Briana Pegado speaks to journalist Kim McAllister to explain why the arts and creative industries need to embrace data.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-13132919 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1587 full false MOOCS: Massive Open Online Courses MOOCS: Massive Open Online Courses Featuring Sanjay Rakshit and Nick Baker 

Massive online open courses (MOOCS) are for people wanting to learn about how data can impact their career prospects. Two people who have completed such courses tell us how they changed their lives.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Featuring Sanjay Rakshit and Nick Baker 

Massive online open courses (MOOCS) are for people wanting to learn about how data can impact their career prospects. Two people who have completed such courses tell us how they changed their lives.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11325207 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0400 892 full false The Jameel Observatory The Jameel Observatory Featuring Gary Watmough, Alan Duncan and Guyo Roba 

The Jameel Observatory combines the local knowledge and concerns of communities facing the threat of hunger with innovations in data science and humanitarian action. The food insecurity of tomorrow can be tackled today by early actions that increase the resilience and adaptive capacities of people living in harsh climates like the African drylands.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Featuring Gary Watmough, Alan Duncan and Guyo Roba 

The Jameel Observatory combines the local knowledge and concerns of communities facing the threat of hunger with innovations in data science and humanitarian action. The food insecurity of tomorrow can be tackled today by early actions that increase the resilience and adaptive capacities of people living in harsh climates like the African drylands.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11325143 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 828 full false Edinburgh Futures Institute Edinburgh Futures Institute Featuring Chris Speed

 The Edinburgh Futures Institute is due to start its phased  opening in 2023 after an extensive renovation of the old Edinburgh Infirmary. Chris Speed, the hub’s director, talks about the plans  for the building and the work which will take place within it.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Featuring Chris Speed

 The Edinburgh Futures Institute is due to start its phased  opening in 2023 after an extensive renovation of the old Edinburgh Infirmary. Chris Speed, the hub’s director, talks about the plans  for the building and the work which will take place within it.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11325086 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 1261 full false SACHA: Students as Change Agents SACHA: Students as Change Agents A design-thinking, social change programme at the University of Edinburgh brings together all disciplines and degree levels  with organisations facing huge economic, social and environmental programmes which they would like the students to brainstorm. One such project asked them to consider how to make tenement flats more energy efficient.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> A design-thinking, social change programme at the University of Edinburgh brings together all disciplines and degree levels  with organisations facing huge economic, social and environmental programmes which they would like the students to brainstorm. One such project asked them to consider how to make tenement flats more energy efficient.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11324971 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 877 full false ISARIC ISARIC When the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, there was an urgent need for health data. The International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC)  gathered data from hundreds of thousands of patients across  the UK, helping to inform government on a weekly basis.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> When the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, there was an urgent need for health data. The International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC)  gathered data from hundreds of thousands of patients across  the UK, helping to inform government on a weekly basis.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11324926 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 764 full false Jonathan Seckl interview Jonathan Seckl interview Edinburgh has long been a centre of excellence for informatics,  but how did this inspire the £660m data driven innovation initiative, the largest grant ever awarded to a UK university?  One of its architects tells us the story.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Edinburgh has long been a centre of excellence for informatics,  but how did this inspire the £660m data driven innovation initiative, the largest grant ever awarded to a UK university?  One of its architects tells us the story.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11324910 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 715 full false Wobble Genomics Wobble Genomics Featuring Richard Kuo and Nicola Broughton 

Wobble Genomics was founded by a Californian who was attracted to the environment at the university which cloned Dolly the Sheep. It specialises in maximising the RNA and DNA sequencing efficiency to allow the detection of biomarkers. Here he tells us about the growth of his company.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Featuring Richard Kuo and Nicola Broughton 

Wobble Genomics was founded by a Californian who was attracted to the environment at the university which cloned Dolly the Sheep. It specialises in maximising the RNA and DNA sequencing efficiency to allow the detection of biomarkers. Here he tells us about the growth of his company.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11324405 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0400 1170 full false Venture Builder, AI Accelerator and EIE Venture Builder, AI Accelerator and EIE Featuring Laura Bernal, Katy Guthrie and Danny Helson 

The University of Edinburgh has three programmes which  support entrepreneurship at various levels. Here the programme leads explains the role each plays and how they work together  to support the talent in the city.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> Featuring Laura Bernal, Katy Guthrie and Danny Helson 

The University of Edinburgh has three programmes which  support entrepreneurship at various levels. Here the programme leads explains the role each plays and how they work together  to support the talent in the city.

The Data Driven Innovation initiative is supporting hundreds of collaborations and organisations across Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland. For more information follow their page on LinkedIn, find @datacapitaled on X (formerly Twitter) or go to the website ddi.ac.uk.

]]> William Grant Foundation Buzzsprout-11324368 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0400 1474 full false