12 DR MICHAEL GROVES, - investinedinburgh.com · August / November 2018 – 3 Edinburgh’s dynamic economy ideal for investors Edinburgh has been placed 12th in a search for Europe’s

EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES IN SCOTLAND’S AWARD-WINNING CAPITAL

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EDINBURGH FORGES A DATA-DRIVEN INCLUSIVE FUTURE

The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal lies at the heart of the city’s vision to become Europe’s data capital. p8

Capital connectionsEdinburgh woven into fabric of 21st century Silk Road

p16

Added extrasCircular Edinburgh promotes sustainable economic opportunities

p17

EDINBURGH WELCOMES EUROPEAN PARTNERS

IN 2018

EUROCITIES 2018

DR MICHAEL GROVES, FOUNDER OF TOPOLYTICS

LeisureSurf’s up with the arrival of Wavegarden Scotland in Edinburgh

p4

Capital focusWorking together to deliver an inclusive community

p15

SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE

VISION

ROUND TABLE

12

August – November ‘18

Edinburgh’s investor appeal p3

University of Edinburgh climbs world rankings p4

Made in Edinburgh: Assistive tech by Neatebox p14

New Arrivals: Ventient Energy p14

ALSO INSIDE:

2 – investedinburgh.com

In 2018, Edinburgh is a thriving, successful and rapidly evolving city. Its population growth is outpacing every other city in the UK underpinned by a robust regional economy.

As the city hosts visitors from across the world in August, it’s clear to see why Scotland’s capital holds such appeal for young professionals and graduate talent. Edinburgh offers an unrivalled quality of life, diverse cultural offer and a critical mass of high growth technology companies making their mark on that sector’s global stage.

However, Edinburgh also faces many challenges. Development and growth need to be managed in a sustainable way that provides opportunities for all, not just the few. Delivering affordable housing; reducing poverty; providing accessible lifelong learning opportunities for residents; embracing cleaner, greener and more sustainable ways of working and living – these are all key to ensuring Edinburgh remains a great place in which to live, work, invest, study and to visit. In the following pages, we explore several of these themes.

Looking ahead, next month sees the launch of the second round of public engagement with City Vision 2050, giving residents and businesses in Edinburgh the opportunity to shape what sort of city we should be building for the future. Famed for its historic built environment, Edinburgh’s potential lies not in its history, but in its people. City Vision 2050 gives every citizen the opportunity to shape a thriving, inspiring, connected and fair city for the future. We hope many of our readers will seize that opportunity.

WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF INVEST EDINBURGH

Councillor Kate CampbellConvenor of the Economy and Housing Committee

Councillor Lezley Marion CameronVice-Convenor of the Economy and Housing Committee

Invest Edinburgh magazine is created in a partnership between Marketing Edinburgh Ltd and the City of Edinburgh Council. It is published by resolvecreative.co.uk

M&G acquires Edinburgh Haymarket

M&G Real Estate has acquired the Edinburgh Haymarket Development for £49.1m. The site, in the Exchange District, the city’s financial and commercial centre, was previously being developed under a joint venture between Interserve and Tiger Developments.

Described as the most significant development project to come to market in the city in over a decade, the three-acre site has planning permission for a mixed-use scheme including three office buildings, retail space, a 190-bedroom hotel and a 170-unit apart-hotel. It is expected that the completed development will accommodate more than 4,000 jobs, and support 500 more during construction.

The prominent site is located at the Haymarket transport interchange, which

connects Haymarket train station and the city’s tram line, allowing passengers to connect directly to Edinburgh Airport and the city centre.

M&G Real Estate intends to follow through with the major hotel and office development and has said that the site provides an opportunity to further expand the Exchange District.

Chris Perkins, Head of Business Space, M&G Real Estate, said: “Bringing 32,500 m2 (350,000 ft2) to the market will reinforce the Exchange District as a prime hub for business in Europe. The plans highlight open and accessible public space, creating a mix of continental style boulevards and pedestrian-friendly public areas. This is also an opportunity to provide best-in-class Grade A offices and the investment reinforces our strategy of acquiring assets in targeted growth zones.”

Summary: The purchase brings renewed momentum to the long-awaited mixed use city centre development.

www.mandg.com

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To subscribe to Invest Edinburgh, or to obtain additional copies

Email: editor@invest edinburgh.com

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Available Grade A office space Q2 2018

Grade A city centre vacancy rate Q2 2018 1.15%

150%between Q1 – Q2 to 33,000 m2 (351,916 ft2)

21,000 m2

(225,000 ft2)

Facts & Stats

Sour

ce: C

BRE

Office lettings rose

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August / November 2018 – 3

www.dynamiccities.savillsim.com

Edinburgh’s dynamic economy ideal for investors

Edinburgh has been placed 12th in a search for Europe’s most dynamic cities, according to a new investment index, featuring

Summary: With robust demand for prime locations and limited Grade A supply, opportunity knocks in Edinburgh.

alongside cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona and Berlin.

Savills Investment Management’s Dynamic Cities Index rated 130 European cities across six different categories and assigned an overall score to highlight those with solid foundations for commercial property growth. It aims to draw attention to places which encourage wealth and population

growth by being able to attract and retain talent, drive innovation and increase productivity.

The Index highlighted the city’s commitment to the arts and culture, its population growth forecast, and the likelihood of residents to engage in community activities.

“The city has what it takes to attract investors, namely infrastructure investment projects, fast-growing knowledge networks, high quality universities, innovative businesses drawing from a global talent pool, and strong cultural amenities to help retain that talent,” said Irfan Younus, Head of Research, Europe, at Savills IM.

Edinburgh achieved fifth place in the inclusion table, which measured a city’s diversity, public transport and cost of living. The city also ranked seventh for inspiration, which was defined by the number of cafés, green spaces and cultural amenities such as museums. The four other categories were innovation, interconnection, investment and infrastructure.

The Emirates service, which will commence flights to Dubai on 1 October 2018, underlines Edinburgh as the gateway to Scotland while improving connectivity to Dubai’s extensive long-haul network.

Emirates is the largest international airline in the world and has increased capacity to Scotland to meet growing demand. Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West, said: “Edinburgh is a very popular leisure and business destination,

and the new route will offer our customers from across our global network, particularly from key inbound markets such as Asia and Australia, a direct option to the city via our Dubai hub.”

Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK, with international tourists drawn to its rich history, cultural and architectural attractions, gourmet food scene, as well as international festivals and cultural events.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, added, “This service will cater for leisure and business passengers, providing daily links for international tourism and trade opportunities both inbound and outbound.

Daily Dubai service opens up new long haul markets

Following the £858m electrification of the Edinburgh and Glasgow train line, new Hitachi Class 385 electric trains have been introduced, adding extra capacity and reducing journey times by up to 20% by 2019.

Edinburgh Napier University has introduced an MSc in Financial Technology, starting in September 2018.


Summary: The latest international university rankings

have underlined the University

of Edinburgh’s position as a leading

global institution.

www.ed.ac.uk

Scotland’s first artificial surfing arena, which is predicted to generate up to £11m annually for the local economy, is to be built adjacent to the Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena, to the west of the city centre, creating 130 jobs.

Andy Hadden, the co-founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd, which is developing Wavegarden Scotland, said: “This £15m facility will offer high-performance adventure amenities alongside a wonderful country park for walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy.”

Two Wavegardens are already operating in the USA and Spain, with a third under construction in Bristol.

“Our mission is to create the most exciting overnight and day-trip destination in the UK,” said Andy, himself an avid surfer.

“Edinburgh is already one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, and Scotland is a country known for its adventure sports and rugged coastline.”

Surfing globally is a sport enjoyed by 35 million people and will make its debut as an Olympic Sport at Tokyo in 2020.

“Craigpark Quarry provides the ideal physical setting for the wave technology we’ll be using, as well as ample space for the other sports and leisure facilities we’re including.”

Called ‘The Cove’, the technology can create up to 1000 waves every hour of different intensities, meaning surfers of all abilities will be able to enjoy the facility.

The 23 hectare park – designed by landscape architects HarrisonStevens – will also provide self-catering guest lodges, glamping pods, a waterfront café and restaurant and retail spaces.

Revolutionary Wavegarden comes to Edinburgh

© N

eale

Sm

ithUniversity of Edinburgh ranked in world top 20

https://wavegarden.scot

Also of interest:

Read our Blog with Andy Hadden: https://bit.ly/2mEamXZ

Global tech giant, Google, has opened

Scotland’s first ‘Digital Garage’ in

Edinburgh city centre. The hub will

support Google’s goal to help 100,000

people in the UK develop their career

through digital training over the next three years.

The QS World University Rankings 2019 place the University 18th globally, which puts it once again in the highest position of any Scottish university and fifth in the UK.

The annual QS World University Rankings use a range of evaluation methods and offer a comprehensive guide to the top universities. The criteria include a research reputation survey, a poll of graduate employers and analysis of the levels of internationalisation within each university.

The University is also rated fifth in the UK in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), known as the Shanghai Rankings. These take into account the volume of research papers published, and alumni and staff who have won Nobel Prizes.

The University’s most recent recipient – Professor Peter Higgs – was celebrated in May this year with the opening of The Higgs Centre for Innovation, at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. It brings together leading research in astronomy and particle physics and the instrumentation expertise that underpins it, with business incubation facilities and laboratories suitable for commercial use.

Professor Higgs was the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013, for his theoretical work on the Higgs boson – the elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics that he predicted. It was identified by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in 2012.


6 August 18Allan Matthews, Advisory & Transaction Services Director from global property firm CBRE discusses robust office demand in Edinburgh in Q2 2018 and highlights the signficant interest generated by city centre speculative developments.

30 July 18Following its recent acquisition of Greenside from the Chris Stewart Group, Invest Edinburgh talked to Frankfurt-headquartered KanAm Grund Group about what attracted the commercial real estate investor to Edinburgh.

16 July 18Invest Edinburgh spoke to Doug More, CEO of Scottish cyber security specialists Assure APM about the company’s recent expansion into London and its plans for the future.

9 July 18With an established 30-year presence in Edinburgh, Swedish engineering, environment and design consultancy Sweco has relocated to the city’s Fountainbridge area.

2 July 18AES Solar, the oldest solar company in Western Europe, opened new offices in Edinburgh earlier this year. Commercial Director, Jamie di Sotto outlined the company’s vision to expand sales and marketing across Scotland’s central belt.

City centre luxury wine and food

venue, One20 Wine Café, opened its

doors to the public in July, offering

delights from Italian pâtissier

Luigi Biasetto and luxury Italian-

roasted coffee.

Summary: Edinburgh continues to build its national and international reputation as both a retail and leisure destination.

The capital’s diverse retail sector is buoyant: from the flurry of independent retailers already bringing vibrancy and an eclectic mix of artisan delights to New Waverley, the 7.5 acre mixed-use development on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile; to high-street perennial Next, agreeing pre-let terms at Edinburgh St James, one of the biggest development projects in the UK; and Moorgarth’s plans to redevelop The Waverley Mall, after acquiring the centre.

The confidence is based on firm foundations. Essential Edinburgh, the city centre Business Improvement District (BID), report that 9.4m people visited the BID

area alone in May 2018 – a 5% uplift in total footfall compared to the previous month. Essential Edinburgh also secured overwhelming backing for a third five-year term in the same month, getting support from 91% of businesses voting in the BID renewal ballot.

The city centre’s hospitality scene also continues to thrive. Recent arrivals include London-based Hawksmoor, which opened a 170-cover restaurant this summer, in the Edinburgh Grand on St Andrew Square.

In the autumn, a £1m marketing campaign supported by Marketing Edinburgh will launch, aiming to drive more locals into the city centre. It sits within a £2.35m package that will promote the city centre through to 2023: an exciting period that will include the completion of the luxury leisure complex at Edinburgh St James. Edinburgh clearly retains its status as a premier location for leisure and retail investment.

City remains premier draw for leisure and retail

Latest blogsfrom Invest Edinburgh...

www.newwaverley.comwww.edinburghstjames.comwww.essentialedinburgh.co.uk

“Essential Edinburgh... reports that 9.4m people

visited the BID area alone in May 2018.”


QUESTIONS10

Dr Michael Groves, founder of Topolytics

What role does Topolytics play in the shift towards a global circular economy?Topolytics is a digital enabler of the circular economy. We won’t be able to achieve a scaled, functioning circular economy unless we can get a handle on how and where all our waste is transported and processed.

Mike is a geographer with a PhD in aerial photo interpretation and 25 years environmental management and sustainability

reporting experience. In 2011, he sold his stake in Great Circle, a sustainability communications and reporting business, before

forming Topolytics with a view to harnessing mapping and machine learning to reduce waste.

http://topolytics.com


We need to move away from the view that waste goes into a hole in the ground to one where we view waste as a material that can be monetised. To do that, we need to improve the quality of data we collect, make it transparent and verifiable.

How did the idea of Topolytics come about?I’d worked in and around environmental management for more than 20 years. It was clear the model of reporting around sustainability, in particular environmental performance, was not only very expensive, it relied on out of date data. We wanted to build a data driven reporting system that allows businesses to report more or less in real time. Using my background in earth observation and spatial science, we built our tools around mapping commercial and industrial waste to create a focused data and analytics business.

How international is your customer base?Clearly, there are opportunities in the UK, as it’s our home market, but we’re already working in Europe, India, China and the US. Asia is the fastest growing market for environmental technologies globally.

Companies all over the world are generating waste, much of which, sadly, continues to end up buried. According to World Bank figures, more than 2 billion tonnes of urban waste are generated annually and most of this is sent to landfill and that’s not the totality of the challenge.

In 2018, Topolytics joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 programme as an emerging innovator in the global circular economy. What did that mean for the business?It was significant for several reasons: the CE100 programme is a mark of global respect. It recognises Topolytics as a global disruptor in the circular economy. It also gives us significant profile and puts us on a

Also of interest:

TedX – Saving the world with Geographywww.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Nj15-Bmfshttps://ecometrica.com/

level playing field with some major players. The CE100 brings big multi-nationals like Apple, Google, Dell and Philips alongside small, agile innovators, to see what’s possible.

How important is Edinburgh’s reputation as an international technology hub to Topolytics? Edinburgh’s wider tech ecosystem makes it easy to meet other companies, especially those focused on software development and data analytics, helping to unlock potential collaborations.

The CodeBase brand is a quality mark. As the largest tech incubator in the UK, it has a track record in nurturing great companies. However, from a positioning point of view, it has been invaluable. When I tell people where we’re based, they know we’re a tech business. They get it.

Your flagship products – WasteMap and WasteTrack – provide a dynamic digital picture of commercial and industrial waste. How is that data pulled in?We import the data from customers’ legacy systems; a process that provides a kind of visual gap analysis because it helps to identify inconsistencies in the data and raise questions about a specific material and what happens to it. By collating all that information into a live, visual map-based system, you can understand exactly what’s happening to the waste. Fundamentally, a map helps you make better decisions. The more we see, the more you can extract value from the information.

How does Topolytics integrate with clients’ own waste management workflows?When it comes to waste management in a commercial context, the focus has been on reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill. The measurement of that material, the way it’s separated, the way it’s processed is enormously fragmented and often spreadsheet-based. By making that data visible, a business can start to verify that data in real-time. Why is that material travelling halfway around the world when there are better options? Can we monetise that waste stream ourselves?

Ultimately, we’re enabling companies, recyclers and investors to maximise the utility of material and optimise its value – that is how we generate our revenues. The onboarding process depends on who we are working with, but we’re making strides in automating that process.

How influential can Edinburgh be in promoting sustainable growth and the circular economy globally?

Edinburgh’s ecosystem has a great reputation, and we have some brilliant assets in terms of our universities, government policy, and especially the tech scene here, which is amazing.

Interestingly, I think we’re seeing the nexus between financial services and the world of resource efficiency and the circular economy evolving rapidly. That’s why Scotland, and Edinburgh in particular, is such an interesting place to be, as we’re right at the heart of that evolution. We’re already seeing growth in green bonds, where several potentially disruptive clean tech businesses and projects are grouped together to help de-risk the investment. And what do investors need to make smarter, safer decisions? Better data!

What role can blockchain have in supporting the circular economy?Our primary goal at Topolytics is to build a global data and analytics business. We do this by making waste visible, verifiable and valuable. Blockchain has the potential to be another enabling technology we can use.

Through a collaboration with the University of Stirling, we used it to verify the fate of organic waste produced by the University’s aquaculture operations. As a demonstrator, it was invaluable, highlighting its potential but also helping us to understand the challenges of using a digital technology to record physical materials.

Looking ahead, how do you see waste tech evolving?Waste management is a hot topic. We recently won the audience vote for the most disruptive tech start-up in Scotland, at the Deloitte Disrupt the Enterprise event where Scotland’s most promising technology companies pitched to an invited audience and panel of judges. That reflects the current Zeitgeist around waste.

The waste management industry is worth more than £380bn annually ($500bn ) and the smart waste sector valued at about £1.5bn ($2bn). It’s a sizeable opportunity and we’re seen as a global innovator in that space. Ultimately, our aim is to create a business at scale that helps to drive waste out of the industrial system and enable a circular economy.

Topolytics’ WasteMap solution.



Edinburgh is looking to its future as it strives to ensure that growth can be managed in a sustainable way; delivering the skills and infrastructure essential to its success, while providing opportunities for all its citizens.

EDINBURGH FORGES A DATA DRIVEN INCLUSIVE FUTURETHE CITY’S INNOVATIVE CULTURE,

DIVERSE ECONOMY AND HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE WERE

CITED BY ARCADIS EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN IT NAMED EDINBURGH THE UK’S MOST ATTRACTIVE CITY FOR INWARD INVESTMENT.

That appeal was reinforced by the JLL European Office Rental Growth Hotspots 2018 report. It placed Edinburgh 7th in Europe for office rental growth: the only city in the UK to feature in the top 10.

A GLOBAL TECH CLUSTERMuch of Edinburgh’s growth is being delivered by the Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT) sector, which accounted for 20% of office take-up in the city last year. Thanks to initiatives such as CodeBase, the largest tech incubator in the UK, (as highlighted by the latest Tech Nation report), the number of tech start-ups is accelerating.

This tech-savvy entrepreneurial community is fuelled by Edinburgh’s exceptional universities, and its wider appeal as a beautiful place in which to live and work.

An international reputation in data analytics was key to why telecommunications giant Telefonica chose the University of Edinburgh Bayes Centre as the ideal location for Scotland’s first artificial intelligence and blockchain accelerator, which will be run


The six local authorities that make up the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region, (Edinburgh, Borders, Fife, as well as West Lothian, East Lothian and MidLothian); together with the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret College and the private sector; signed Heads of Terms with both governments on a deal with a value in excess of £1.3bn. This will tackle inequality and deprivation through investment in innovation, skills, and infrastructure.

The area contains more than a quarter of Scotland’s population, and contributes £33bn to the Scottish and UK economies annually. Over the next 15 years, the Deal will generate

more than £5bn of additional Gross Value Added.

“It allows us to transform the area by delivering over 21,000 high quality jobs, along with a new skills programme,” explains City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Adam McVey. “It brings much needed housing, major investment in our infrastructure and a city centre concert hall.

“The investment in innovation and culture is welcome, as both are crucial to the City Region’s economy. This will put us at the forefront of data driven innovation, ensuring we are ahead of the game in a technology-driven world.

“Through our amazing universities, we are already home to a host of market-leading research and development, much of which acts as an anchor for the delivery of new products and services in the private sector. I’m very proud we are working with both UK and Scottish governments to ensure growth for the region going forward.”

The Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal

adds Charlie. “We’re looking at support for occupations vulnerable to technological disruption; help for older, less tech-savvy residents to benefit from data; while challenging stereotypes and cultural conditioning around the subjects boys and girls choose at high school.”

New ways of thinking are already being trialled, through a collaboration with Midlothian Council at Newbattle Academy. “This pilot is perhaps one of the most important collaborations,” says Charlie. “How should we equip a high school for the digital era? What new skills will teachers need? This is a pilot, but if it works there’s an opportunity to roll out learning across Scotland.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALLThrough existing assets, such as the Data Lab, businesses all over Scotland are exploring how Edinburgh’s world-leading research in informatics and computer science can deliver competitive advantage.

As Charlie highlights, that opportunity for Data Driven Innovation (DDI) exists for every business. “The local butcher generates its own data, and could be enhanced if we develop suitable applications. That provides opportunities for our students, and I think we have a great mechanism to address these opportunities in Interface – a Scottish government-funded body that links SMEs and universities.”

Some of the city’s most disadvantaged communities could also benefit from innovative data services. The University is developing an online interface to highlight available accommodation, support services and healthcare advice for the homeless. This challenge-based approach aims to replicate the success of initiatives such as CivTech®, which has proved so successful in blending public sector expertise and private sector creativity to solve problems in how products and services are delivered.

www.acceleratinggrowth.org.uk

by Wayra UK. Announced by Prime Minster Theresa May, in June, it is expected to create a further 400 jobs for the sector.

DATA DRIVEN AGENDAThat news represented a success for Data Driven Innovation, an agenda that remains key to the £1.3bn Edinburgh and South East of Scotland City Region Deal. £300m is to be focused on establishing Edinburgh as Europe’s data capital within ten years.

“You need the entrepreneurial ecosystem – assets such as tech incubators – which feed off the flow of graduate talent and research coming

from the city’s universities,” explains Professor Charlie Jeffery, Senior Vice-Principal at the University of Edinburgh “You also need the right business development environment; and international events such as Engage, Invest, Exploit, our investor showcase conference, which attract investors. Then you need effective public sector support, which we’ve had at a UK, Scottish and local level.”

Three and a half years of hard work went into shaping the City Region Deal.

“It has produced a collective capability that we now want to harness to help address issues of inclusivity,”

£300m focused on Data Driven Innovation, with the aim of establishing Edinburgh as the data capital of Europe within ten years. The Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics.


Also of interest:

Edinburgh deploys smart LED streetlights:www.investinedinburgh.com/news-events/ latest-news/edinburgh-deploys-smart-streetlights

www.ed.ac.uk/local/city-region-dealwww.thedatalab.comwww.interface-online.org.uk

In 2016, Edinburgh initiated a conversation around its future, to create a vision for 2050. Several themes emerged from the initial phase of consultation, which engaged with businesses, residents and young people in schools and universities. More than 10,000 people submitted ideas around cleaner energy, reducing poverty and promoting active travel.

“What impressed most is the aspiration and hope in how people talk about the city, their sense of pride,” says John Donnelly, Chief Executive, Marketing Edinburgh, which is to launch an integrated marketing campaign in September, to engage residents in the next phase of consultation. “We want all residents to be aware of the campaign, which will invite them to a dedicated website to add their voice.”

“There will be some development of the themes that have emerged so far, but Phase 2 remains open for residents to bring forward more ideas,” adds John. The consultation will run until the end of 2018, at which point the Council’s Strategy & Insights team will feed results into the evolving City Vision strategy.

Championing City Vision 2050 is Frank Ross, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh. “A city vision can bring together powerful and influential organisations, to achieve what none could do individually. It calls on citizens to shape their future and commit to something of long-term significance beyond the concerns of the latest headlines and politics of the next election.”

City Vision 2050

DISRUPTION AND INNOVATIONDDI has already had a disruptive effect on industry, as Ritchie Somerville, Data Innovation Director at the University of Edinburgh explains: “The largest taxi company in the world doesn’t own any taxis: Uber is a data science company focused on solving how someone gets from A to B. The largest hotel chain in the world, doesn’t own any hotels – AirBnB.

“Understanding how these technologies work, and what skills are needed to unlock new ways of doing business is key to what the DDI programme sets out to achieve.”

One of the greatest barriers is legacy IT systems, “which were never designed to facilitate access or analysis,” explains Ritchie. “So, what do we need to do? What queries would we like to run on the data? How best do we present those analytics?”

The resulting challenges are mapped against ten key sectors (see graphic) with the opportunity to disrupt. Each sector is mapped to one of five innovation hubs: The Bayes Centre, Usher Institute, Edinburgh Futures Institute, the Roslin Innovation Centre (Easter Bush) and National Robotarium. Each will focus on one of five key innovation themes: talent, research, adoption, data sets and entrepreneurship.

“The programme places a primacy on talent,” says Ritchie. “To unleash the potential of DDI, we need to expose more students to data analytics tools like R. They don’t need to become data scientists, but they can become data science advocates: enablers who help unleash the potential of data science in a company.”

BROADER COLLABORATIONThe University of Edinburgh is not alone in helping to deliver this data driven future; the new £35m National Robotarium, at Heriot-Watt University’s Riccarton campus, is

positioned to propel Edinburgh to the forefront of global robotics. Partnership working with Queen Margaret University is focused on food and drink, and its potential impact on healthcare; while Edinburgh Napier University has tremendous expertise in areas like cyber security – which will be fundamental to a data driven economy.

SO, WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? “We have a significant population of high earning households, and a significant population with low incomes – and a gap in the middle,” says Charlie. “We have an opportunity to push those two curves together, through DDI and the City Region Deal, meaning in economic terms that people will be more productive, affluent and fulfilled.”

“City Vision allows us all to take stock and move forward

with renewed purpose.”

“Unlocking new ways of doing business is key to what the DDI programme sets out to achieve.”

“Data Capital of Europe”

“Data Capital of Europe”

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As Edinburgh continues to grow and evolve, we asked several organisations how that growth can be managed effectively to

ensure it is not only sustainable but also inclusive.

ROUND TABLE:

LIZ MCAREAVEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PROFESSOR ANDY KERR,DIRECTOR, EDINBURGH CENTRE FOR CARBON INNOVATION (ECCI)

PROFESSOR LESLEY MCARA, DIRECTOR, EDINBURGH FUTURES INSTITUTE

REBECCA PRITCHARD, HEAD OF BUSINESS BANKING, TRIODOS BANK

FANCHEA KELLY, CEO, BLACKWOOD GROUP

ASHIMA SUKHDEV, GOVERNMENT & CITIES PROGRAMME LEAD, ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

LIZ MCAREAVEY on how Edinburgh can deliver sustainable growth“Whilst we must continue to invest in our festivals and the fabric of the city with careful but progressive development, we also need to ensure we are a fair, inclusive and sustainable city. The fruits of growth and economic prosperity should be available to all citizens and equality of opportunity should be central to our City Vision.

Successful cities of the future are going to be ‘Smart Cities’. That means harnessing the digital revolution, changing lives by providing better access to healthcare, simplifying waste management, streamlining public services and managing transport and mobility to address congestion and pollution levels. Smart Cities need public and private collaboration to drive smart, sustainable initiatives – something which Edinburgh is well placed to achieve.

That’s why Edinburgh Chamber has just launched Circular Edinburgh in conjunction with Zero Waste Scotland, to raise awareness and encourage adoption of the circular economy; not only reducing waste, energy consumption and landfill but prolonging the life of products through recycling, re-use and re-manufacture.”

ANDY KERR on Edinburgh’s pioneering role in the low carbon economy “Edinburgh is better known for its rich past and Gothic architecture than its futuristic infrastructure. But it could be about to rewrite history as a pioneer of low carbon growth.

Edinburgh offers no shortage of opportunities to put low carbon solutions into practice. ECCI is working


to focus this on low carbon mobility, with new developments on Edinburgh’s waterfront providing an ideal test bed for radical approaches.

In June, the City of Edinburgh Council agreed it will work with ECCI to make further progress on climate change. We’ll audit the Council’s sustainability activity and deliver recommendations on how the city can improve, as it aims to realise its 2050 vision.

And we know creating thriving low carbon cities is the best way to create vibrant and liveable places with strong economic growth.

Cities cluster together the people, ideas and resources to make low carbon solutions a reality. They are our best chance of creating change on the scale needed.”

LESLEY MCARA on the need for new approaches to tackle tomorrow’s challenges “Our aim is to harness the digital revolution for social benefit. The Edinburgh Futures Institute will bring together academics from a range of different disciplines across the arts, humanities and social sciences to build a programme of applied research and education which is cognisant of the needs of government, industry, and the wider community.

As part of its work linked to the City Region Deal, the Institute will focus on three core sectors: public services (govtech), financial services (fintech) and creative industries (creativetech). Questions include:• What role can data driven innovation

play in supporting citizenship and participation? Can it enable more informed and ethical decision-making by public bodies? Promote greater efficiencies in the deployment of resource and better evaluation of outcomes?

• How can data driven innovation transform financial markets to create better outcomes for customers?

• In what ways can data driven innovation encourage entrepreneurship in creative industries and support an eco-system that enables the sector in the City Region to thrive?

Edinburgh Futures Institute will be housed in the former Royal Infirmary of

Edinburgh. The reimagined space will provide a built environment predicated on encounter, co-production, and risk-taking; community-facing, sustainable (both ecologically and intellectually) and inspiring. The motto inscribed above the main entrance is: ‘Patet Omnibus’ – ‘Open to All’.”

REBECCA PRITCHARD on the growing role of ethical finance “Our model at Triodos Bank is to specifically lend money to businesses and organisations that are delivering positive social, environmental or cultural benefit for people and society.

Edinburgh is a hub for this kind of activity. The city is a seedbed for social, cultural and environmental innovation. It has always nurtured a strong arts and culture sector, a dynamic social movement, and is now a hub for clean energy throughout the UK.

Triodos increased lending to Scottish organisations by 40% in 2017, indicating strong growth for ethical banking in Scotland. We have wonderful examples in Edinburgh – like Henderson’s café and bakery, The Chocolate Tree artisan organic chocolatiers, Chance for Change, Blackwood Homes, or Out of the Blue Arts Trust in Leith.

Encouragingly, there is a growing demand from people wanting to know how their bank is using their money. They want to support businesses with a strong purpose beyond profit. We would love to see more people supporting a sustainable city through how they spend, save and invest money.

We can’t do this alone. A whole ecosystem is needed. Organisations that we work closely with, like Social Investment Scotland, Scottish Green Tourism, Soil Association Scotland, B Corporation, Social Enterprise Scotland and the Scottish Government, all play a key role. Together we can change finance, to finance change.”

FANCHEA KELLY on the pressing need for affordable housing “Blackwood is delighted to be part of Edinburgh’s future growth, particularly where the City Deal helps to sponsor innovative homes for independent living.

Our investment in the highly

accessible, beautiful, Blackwood House, supported by ethical bank Triodos, will bring a unique contribution to the housing supply in the city. Our innovative housing and care services become increasingly important as we all begin to live longer and city populations expand.

We are excited to deliver these houses in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council.”

ASHIMA SUKHDEV discusses how cities can embrace the circular economy “Cities are major centres for economic activity, knowledge, and innovation. According to the World Bank, 85% of global GDP is generated by cities and over half the world’s population live in them, with this figure set to rise to 66% by 2050. These factors also make cities concentrators of materials and nutrients: research by the UN Environment Programme shows that 75% of natural resource consumption takes place in cities, and they produce 50% of global waste and 60-80% of greenhouse gas emissions. These are symptoms of an economy that relies on the ‘take, make, dispose’ linear model. The need for change is increasingly evident, with cities on the frontline.

A circular economy can support Edinburgh’s objectives of becoming a thriving, successful and sustainable capital city, offering the potential for better growth. Growth in a circular economy means moving away from creating value in depletive and extractive ways, and instead growing the most restorative and regenerative parts of the economy by harnessing innovation to drive waste out of how products and services are delivered. Edinburgh can leverage its entrepreneurial culture to encourage the development of new circular economy business models in the city, and should see the circular economy as a driver for innovation.

Over the past few years, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been working with the Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland, and Scottish Enterprise as part of our CE100 network. We are proud to have been a part of Scotland’s circular economy journey and are encouraged to see this activity being adopted by cities across the country.”


Since founding Neatebox in 2011, Gavin Neate has been creating assistive technologies that promote independent living. The company’s ‘Welcome by Neatebox’ app, launched in July 2017, allows customers to request assistance appropriate to their needs and preferences, through a personal profile.

Jenners, the iconic House of Fraser store in Edinburgh, is the latest organisation to see the potential: launching the service in July 2018. The customer services team are notified of customer’s requests ahead of a planned visit. In preparing, they can access advice supplied by major charities and organisations, to support their interaction with the shopper and provide tailored support as a seamless service. They also receive an alert as the customer is approaching the store (through the app’s geofencing feature), which gives them time to meet the shopper on arrival.

Hilton by DoubleTree in Edinburgh was one of the early adopters, in summer 2017. “They saw Welcome’s customer service potential, helping them to deliver

WHO ARE THEY?Formed in November 2017 from the merger of two smaller wind farm portfolios Ventient Energy is now one of the four largest owner and operators of onshore wind farms in the UK.

They are owned by institutional investors advised by JP Morgan Asset Management.

WHAT DO THEY DO?Ventient Energy now operate 34 wind farms across the UK, located from

Caithness to Cornwall. Their assets comprise 507 turbines in total, with 690MW of installed capacity, generating enough power to supply the equivalent of 420,000 homes annually, offsetting 0.75 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent each a year.

WHAT DOES THEIR ARRIVAL MEAN FOR EDINBURGH?Reflecting this, Ventient Energy chose to headquarter in Edinburgh where the company employs 31 staff, who provide administrative, engineering and management services. A further 13 staff

are based at operational sites throughout the UK.

Their decision to locate in the city means that three of the UK’s top four onshore wind portfolios are headquartered in Scotland, from where Ventient Energy generates approximately two-thirds of its power.

Scott Mackenzie, CEO, said: “Edinburgh as a financial and university city with an international outlook, is a great location for Ventient Energy with access to the high-quality staff we need, ensuring we can meet the financial and engineering requirements of our business as we continue to grow.”

NEW ARRIVALS:

a more confident, prepared welcome, while their customers feel reassured knowing the hotel will take care of their needs,” explains Sabrina Fuchs, Marketing Manager at Neatebox.

It has also been adopted by Edinburgh Airport, to personalise support available to passengers during their journey.

Offered as a subscription to businesses, but free to users, the Welcome app now enables customers to make informed decisions about the places they visit.

Button is the second innovative product developed by Neatebox. This

MADE IN EDINBURGH

www.ventientenergy.com

www.neatebox.combeacon-based technology enables users to activate suitably-equipped pedestrian crossings with their mobile phone.

“Every pedestrian crossing is different,” explains Sabrina. “Many are placed awkwardly for those with mobility issues or impaired vision, and users often feel pressured while getting to the opposite kerbside before the lights change.”

Using Button, people can trigger a crossing

automatically, after a set number of seconds, or activate it with their phone while waiting at the kerbside. “Trials have been overwhelmingly positive,” adds Sabrina. “Button gives users more time to cross, and therefore gives them more confidence about going out. There’s a lot of interest, and we’re in the process of getting Button certified for a wider UK roll out.”

As it now seeks investment to assist with scale up, Neatebox’s pioneering approach looks set to play a growing role in shaping a more inclusive society.


WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

Since opening its first sandwich shop in Edinburgh in 2012, Social Bite has been instrumental in raising public awareness of homelessness across Scotland. High profile support from Hollywood stars and events such as last year’s Social Bite Sleep in the Park, which saw 8,000 people join the world’s largest sleep out in Princes St Gardens and raised more than £4m, have helped shape public perceptions around homelessness in Scotland.

By October, 20 residents will be settled into their energy efficient, eco-friendly Nesthouses, specially commissioned for the Social Bite Village. “From the outset, we appreciated the need to have on-site support for residents,” explains Josh Littlejohn, Social Bite co-founder. “Cyrenians have 50 years’ experience, focused extensively on building communities.”

Residents will also access tailored skills and development opportunities through Edinburgh

College. “All partners came together to identify how best to support residents’ needs,” adds Jakki Jeffery, Head of Faculty, Creative Industries at Edinburgh College. “It was clear that traditional college courses, running August-June, might not be relevant or suitable for all.

“Our approach involves a one-to-one consultation to find out what tenants need. Work experience on campus for example? A chance to sit in on classes to see if it fits? Or gain skills to help with employability? It’s about offering a more flexible approach to lifelong learning.”

As Josh adds, that link with employability goes back to the ethos behind Social Bite’s creation, providing employment opportunities. “The best kind of support often involves giving people a renewed sense of purpose and pride.

“That’s why this flexible approach with Edinburgh College is so exciting. I was blown away by the breadth of courses on offer here. Almost any aspiration can be supported in some way.”

It is hoped the Social Bite Village creates a successful

The recent opening of the Social Bite Village in Granton, Edinburgh forms part of an evolving inclusive, long-term solution to tackling homelessness in Scotland.

Capital focus

www.socialbitevillages.co.ukwww.sleepinthepark.co.uk

model that can be adopted by other local authorities, utilising pre-development gap sites to create community spaces, aided by skills training and tailored support. However, Josh’s ambitions don’t stop there. Following last year’s huge success, the Social Bite Sleep in the Park 2018 will take place across four Scottish cities – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen – in December.

“Money raised last year has allowed us to partner with housing associations and local authorities across the country to secure up to 800 properties across five cities over the next 18 months,” says Josh. “As well as providing mainstream accommodation, residents will benefit from support as part of a national programme that we hope will start to bring transformational change to the issue of homelessness in Scotland.”

“Too many models focus on people’s deficiencies. We believe it’s more

powerful to focus on people’s strengths.”

The world’s largest sleep out in Princes St Gardens raised more than

£4m


Summary: Martin McDermott, First Secretary – Scottish Affairs examines Edinburgh’s acknowledged cultural and trading links with China.

For more than 100 years the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has cultivated close relations with China. The Confucius Institute for Scotland not only supports the teaching of Mandarin in Edinburgh schools but also encourages business networking and promotes cultural understanding between the two countries. Cultural bonds are reinforced at Edinburgh Zoo, home to the UK’s only giant pandas.

As Martin McDermott, First Secretary - Scottish Affairs, based in Beijing, explains, there are

EDINBURGH WOVEN INTO FABRIC OF 21ST CENTURY SILK ROAD Earlier this year, the Scottish government published its revised China Engagement Strategy, underlining the importance of Sino-Scottish relations to delivering sustainable economic growth. At the heart of that relationship is Scotland’s capital.

countless opportunities for Scottish and Edinburgh businesses in China, and for Chinese businesses in Scotland. “When it comes to doing business here, a premium is placed on personal relationships. Trust is important, as is a mutual understanding of what each party is striving to achieve. That can lead to the perception that things move slowly, when in fact the opposite is often true.” For companies with the right product and right mindset, the opportunity is now.

“Scottish businesses have attracted Chinese investment, such as Ctrip’s acquisition of Skyscanner.” As Chinese investors look west, Edinburgh’s universities and their alumni networks will play an important role in unlocking future collaborations. Scotland is home to more leading universities

Martin continues: “The work delivered through the Edinburgh-Shenzhen incubator, with its pioneering approach to international business support, is instrumental in cementing those links.”

Shenzhen is a young, fast growing city. A UNESCO City of Design, it will soon be home to an ambitious V&A design museum. It is a vibrant, green and creative city, famed for its young workforce and ideally located as the gateway between southern China and Hong Kong.

“As China develops its ambitious Belt and Road economic strategy, our engagement activities already encompass other cities. Xi’an recently hosted Edinburgh’s Lord Provost and representatives from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Edinburgh was profiled as guest city at the International Silk Road Expo.

“People in China are already aware of Edinburgh’s Festivals, and The Royal Military Tattoo, even if they’re not familiar with Scotland. That awareness will only grow following the launch of direct air services in June, opening up exciting opportunities for tourism and business,” adds Martin. “A potentially rich reward for Scotland and Edinburgh’s innovative Chinese engagement strategy.”

Capital connections

www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/06/1443

“People in China are already aware of Edinburgh’s Festivals, Edinburgh

Castle, The Royal Military Tattoo, even if they’re not familiar with Scotland.”

per head of population than any country in the world, and Chinese universities are keen to engage with that expertise, especially in relation to robotics, precision engineering and medicine.


CIRCULAR EDINBURGH DELIVERS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

WHAT IS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY?Put simply; a circular economy is about making things last. It looks to keep the flow of materials within the economy for as long as possible – by designing products more smartly, repairing where possible, and remanufacturing and reprocessing new products from old. It looks to sustainability, where everything has value and very little is wasted. Advances in technology and the emergence of disruptive approaches such as the ‘sharing economy’ mean this philosophy is more enabled than ever before.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?The benefits to Scotland of adopting a more circular economy are tremendous, creating investment and jobs, while improving resource efficiency. According to the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy, ‘Making Things Last’,

Circular Edinburgh is a joint initiative delivered by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Zero Waste Scotland to help the city transition towards the circular economy. The initiative is backed by the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Summary: A new initiative aims to support local businesses wishing to embrace the circular economy, providing advice and signposting to possible funding.

remanufacturing is already contributing £1.1bn a year to Scotland’s economy and has the potential to grow by a further £620m by 2020, adding 5,700 jobs.

For individual enterprises – and business clusters at regional level – embedding circular economy principles is not only more ethical and sustainable, but can save companies money and unlock new business opportunities.

In October, Scotland will host the Circular Economy Hotspot. This unique international trade mission will highlight sustainable innovation and expertise, enabling Scotland to showcase its progressive approach to developing and encouraging emerging circular businesses to an international audience.

Circular Edinburgh will contribute through a programme of knowledge sharing events,

workshops and roundtable discussions; all supporting SMEs to develop innovative solutions and ideas for new businesses.

The city has a unique opportunity to build upon the advantages of its wider business ecosystem, especially in technology, to deliver innovation in this field. The case studies – collated from private and social enterprises, including Edinburgh Remakery, IndiNature and Cirkel – show Edinburgh is delivering economic, environmental and social benefits. Their ethos around collaboration is inspiring and shows there is an appetite to move beyond traditional, linear business models – allowing Edinburgh to be not only a hub for tech start-ups, but also an example of how growth and competitive advantage can be achieved through sustainability and a pioneering approach.

Added extras

For further information please visit:www.edinburgh chamber.co.uk/circular-economy

or email: circulareconomy @edinburgh chamber.co.uk

Also of interest:

#CEhotspotscot #ESIF #ZeroWasteScot #CircularEdinburgh

Circular Edinburgh is delivered as part of the Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which will invest £27m in Scotland in circular economy projects until December 2019, thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).


THE 2018 EUROCITIES CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON CREATIVE COMPETITIVE CITIES, AND PRESENTS AN

IDEAL STAGE UPON WHICH CITIES CAN DEVELOP THEIR CULTURAL AND CREATIVE SECTORS THROUGH

INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, ADDITIONAL CREATIVE PLACES AND GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL CITIZENS.

EDINBURGH WELCOMES EUROPEAN PARTNERS

IN 2018 Delegations from all over Europe are expected to attend this year’s

prestigious EUROCITIES Conference, to be hosted at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 28-30 November.

Steven Faichney, Edinburgh Youth Ambassador, at the 2017 Eurocities Conference.


For a city like Edinburgh, with its

young and aspirational workforce, the youth

ambassador programme will provide a fresh

perspective on the future of urban centres.

http://eurocities2018.euwww.eurocities.eu/eurocities /home

Many urban challenges, such as climate change, population growth and managing the impact of technology, are common to all cities. EUROCITIES aims to address these themes by encouraging multilateral connections and knowledge exchange opportunities, to promote collaboration and, ultimately, improve the lives of citizens.

As a city with a distinctly international outlook, Edinburgh has been active in the network since 1991. The decision to host this year’s conference in Scotland is a clear demonstration from European partner cities that Edinburgh is viewed as open for business, no matter what happens at a UK level.

Frank Ross, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, who is championing the City Vision, said: “The City of Edinburgh Council’s bid to deliver the 2018 Conference has been very well received by the member cities, and our Investment and International Relations team has engaged widely across the city to ensure that as many partners and stakeholders as possible can build on the excellent relations we share with cities across the network. This will allow us all to tap into a powerful and inspiring knowledge base on innovative urban policy.”

Tying in with Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, youth engagement will play a central role, with many cities bringing a youth ambassador. The conference will be curated to ensure that the perspectives of young people are

woven throughout the three-day event, and young people from Edinburgh will showcase their talents as they work alongside peers from across Europe.

Over the past 28 years, engagement with the network has delivered many examples of practical learning and collaboration. The format enables each city to engage with the topics and themes of most interest to it; which in Edinburgh’s case has included engagement in the Knowledge Society and Culture working groups.

LEADING ON OPEN DATAIn 2017, Edinburgh became vice chair of the Data Working Group. As Sally Kerr, Digital Innovation Manager at City of Edinburgh Council explains, Edinburgh is viewed as a leading adopter of Open Data. “The Group aims to take a holistic look at how we use data, and that includes open data in a smart city context.”

As Sally adds, European partners have been interested to hear about Edinburgh’s Open Data Agenda and how the city plans to develop partnerships through the City Region Deal. “Each city is at a different level of maturity in different areas, but there is a growing awareness of the need for a data strategy, with all cities contributing to the debate on how you gain value from your data.

“Edinburgh is also supporting the creation of the Urban Digital Foresight project, a horizon-scanning initiative that will explore emerging

Edinburgh has been rated as Western

Europe’s top cruise

destinations based on consumer

reviews posted on the Cruise Critic website

in 2018.

technologies and asses their potential for disruption through living lab projects.” Living labs provide a cost effective way of trialling how to deliver products and services in innovative ways.

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS “The real value of EUROCITIES lies in the strength of the cultural relationships we’ve formed with other cities,” explains David Waddell, Senior Events Officer at City of Edinburgh Council.

“As hosts, we can use this year’s theme ‘Creative Competitive Cities’ to steer the agenda towards areas we wish to address and learn from, specifically about cultural venues and provision. We’ll be looking at the provision of culture; cultural accessibility; using cultural events to drive health and wellbeing agendas. ”

At the last Cultural forum Edinburgh presented the Festivals’ Economic Impact Studies from 2010 and 2015.

“A lot of cities struggle with measuring cultural impact,” adds David. “We were able to demonstrate that, by asking the right questions, it becomes possible to measure the social impact of cultural events as well as two-dimensional economic measures.”

“We’re honoured to host this year’s conference, underlining the strength of the relationships we’ve developed and our leading role in the Culture forum. That can only help to enhance cultural provision, for the betterment of the city.”

Edinburgh Lord Provost, Frank Ross, invites delegates to Edinburgh in 2018.

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12 DR MICHAEL GROVES, - investinedinburgh.com · August / November 2018 – 3 Edinburgh’s dynamic economy ideal for investors Edinburgh has been placed 12th in a search for Europe’s