CivTech Scotland Models Participatory Co-Design
Scotland’s CivTech accelerator exemplifies open innovation by inviting startups, technologists, and the public to co-create solutions for government challenges. Its 15-week “Innovation Flow” process serves as a model for participatory service design, fast-tracking the delivery of solutions that reflect diverse user needs. The approach is presented as a way for public agencies to build design maturity and institutional buy-in.
- Since its inception in 2016, the CivTech programme has been backed by over £25 million in Scottish Government funding, which has helped to attract an additional £125 million in private investment. - The programme is structured around a multi-stage "Innovation Flow" that moves from open challenges to a three-week paid "Exploration Stage," and then to an intensive accelerator for the most promising solution. This culminates in a "Demo Day" where teams pitch for further funding. - Post-accelerator, companies can enter a "Pre-Commercial Stage," where they can negotiate further contracts to continue developing their solutions with the public sector sponsor. To date, 16 out of 18 challenge sponsors have continued their contractual relationships with companies after the accelerator phase. - CivTech 10 marked the program's first thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence, awarding up to £9 million to 14 companies developing AI products to address public sector challenges. These challenges range from helping firefighters identify toxic contaminants to reduce cancer risk, to using drones to monitor puffin populations. - An example of a successful alumnus is This is Milk, which participated in CivTech 5. Founder Angela Prentner-Smith developed Neve Learning, an accessible and inclusive hybrid learning platform, while participating in the accelerator during the COVID-19 lockdown with her newborn baby. - The programme has had a significant economic impact, with participating companies creating over 400 jobs. One alumnus, Tape4Trees, developed a new seed germination technology that is saving Forestry and Land Scotland millions of pounds annually. - Challenge sponsors include a wide array of public and third-sector bodies, such as NHS Scotland, Transport Scotland, Glasgow City Council, and the charity YoungScot. Some challenges directly involve citizens in their definition and in the development of the solutions. - CivTech's model has attracted international attention, with governments from Victoria, Australia, and Poland having undertaken "deep dives" to learn from the programme, which is now supported by a formal CivTech Academy to share its methodology.
