DataFest

A festival of data innovation

running across Scotland

DataFest21 is underway!

DataFest21 got off to a fantastic start with the #OurFuture week of events, featuring keynote talks from Priya Lakhani, Albert King, Ellen Friedman, Matthew Higgs, and Robin Winsor. You can watch Robin’s fascinating talk “Living Alongside AI: A New World Order” below. We’ll be announcing the details of September’s #OurPeople events soon – watch this space!

Looking back on DataFest

Let’s look back at how DataFest has showcased Scotland’s leading role in data science and artificial intelligence on the international stage, while offering an unparalleled networking platform for local and international talent, industry, academia and data enthusiasts.

The DataFest events

What events take place during DataFest?

DataFest19 consisted of over 60 events running across Scotland. As well as several high profile events, our Fringe Events were run all over Scotland by the data science community.

We’re working hard to bring you some of our key events for DataFest21, which will be adapted to the current situation.

Data Summit

A two-day international conference presenting compelling stories on data innovation with keynotes, panels, pitches and lots of inspiration.

Data Talent

An annual collider event that brings together aspiring data science and engineering students with employers from across the country.

Data Tech

A forum to discuss deep technical elements of data science, bringing together technical communities, practitioners and academics across different sectors to share knowledge and experiences and forge new collaborations.

Fringe Events

We have previously brought you events around Scotland exploring, hacking and debating data innovation. Events included meetups, hackathons, debates, public engagement. We hope to see these returning in the future.

Inspiring the data & AI community across Scotland

Our wide range of events offer fantastic opportunities for learning about data science from the key players in the field, as well as networking with other members of the data and AI community.

It was a fantastic event in so many ways. In terms of event management we were impressed (loved the lightning talks- great prompt for students to then approach stands) And the workshops were useful. I had some great conversations and have followed up with lots of new contacts who are keen to engage in other ways.

Alison Parkinson, University of Edinburgh Careers

DataTech was a fantastic experience for me - it was a great opportunity to learn about some of the cutting-edge work being done in data science in Scotland, the UK and around the world. I particularly appreciated the amount of time given for meeting and chatting with people. I made some great contacts who I expect to be in touch with long after the event.

Debbie Bard

What I love about DataFest is that it's utterly authentic - driven by people who want data and AI to be put to the best possible use, attended by those who want to connect with others on this mission. It is also shedloads of fun.

Maggie Philbin OBE

Data-driven innovation has the potential to deliver great benefits to Scottish businesses and our economy more widely. Scotland has a highly skilled workforce with great strengths in areas such as data and digital, and investors are increasingly seeing us as an attractive location for growing their business. I’m very pleased that DataFest is bringing these opportunities to people across the country and bringing an international audience to Edinburgh for another successful Data Summit

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon