Embracing our digital future in the Highlands and Islands for rural prosperity

Theresa Swayne, senior development manager at HIE, reflects on Scottish Innovation Week and talks about the support available at HIE.

Embracing our digital future in the Highlands and Islands for rural prosperity 

Last week’s Scottish Innovation Week showcased the growing strength of the digital and technology support landscape in the Highlands and Islands.
Building on six decades of investment in telecommunications, broadband and mobile connectivity, HIE continues to play a vital role in positioning the region to seize global digital opportunities. While challenges remain, the commitment to rural digital prosperity is stronger than ever.

The announcement by the Scottish Government of £bn’s of investment in AI the UK has raised the question: What does this mean for the Highlands and Islands?  

Could our renewable energy power the green data centres of the future, create jobs, using data (including geospatial data) to address our rural challenges in transport, healthcare and education?  What will our future workplace and jobs look like, what skills will people need?  

We can’t afford to stand still. 

HIE is committed to pushing the boundaries of rural digital adoption. Several new initiatives have been announced that promise to transform our region's technological capabilities and, most importantly, support local organisations. 

National AI Adoption Programme

The Scottish Government has announced £1 million in funding for a new Artificial Intelligence Adoption Programme, designed to help businesses and social enterprises integrate AI into their operations. This national initiative is a collaboration between HIE, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, The Data Lab Innovation Centre and the Scottish AI Alliance.

Support includes:

•          An AI exploration voucher
•          An AI mentoring scheme
•          Learning journeys to leading AI businesses and events
•          and Rural Economy AI events across Scotland in early January 2026

You can find out more about these here

Prioritising digital and technology adoption support for local organisations 

HIE plays an instrumental role in prioritising digital adoption and technology support for businesses, social enterprises, community and voluntary organisations, which are all essential to economic growth and prosperity across our region.

By providing funding, resources, and expert advice, we will ensure that our local enterprises can leverage the latest technologies to stay competitive and thrive in the digital age.  We continue to work alongside our colleagues at the SCVO Digital to ensure digital inclusion in the third sector and beyond. 

Our new Digital and Technology Adoption Programme, which offers grants for digital advice and equipment and projects, is open for enquiries from any organisations located in the region.   

Cyber resilience – be mindful of the threats 

Alongside the digital, data and AI opportunity, the West Highland Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar on cyber security that we were delighted to join and promote the work of the Scottish Government’s CyberScotland Partnership. This event highlighted the importance of considering the risks as well as the opportunities that come with digital transformation.

As businesses adopt new technologies, it is essential to remain vigilant about cyber threats and implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and maintain customer trust. There are organisations and resources that can help with free resources and incident response through the CyberScotland Partnership, including the National Cyber Security Centre and Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Centre.  With organisations like ScotlandIS ensuring that Scotland’s Digital Economy sector and future skills requirements are supported. 

Looking ahead to Climate Week and the role of digital innovation

As we move to Climate Week, it’s clear that digital innovation and climate action go hand in hand. The Highlands and Islands are uniquely positioned to lead in this space, whether through renewable-powered data centres, rural transport solutions or digital tools that support sustainable communities.

Let’s talk about your digital ambitions

The future of the Highlands and Islands is brighter than ever, with enormous opportunities for businesses, social enterprises, voluntary organisations and community groups across all sectors to innovate and grow.  

By embracing these new digital and technology initiatives, we can ensure that our region remains at the forefront of innovation. We remain ambitious about the future - new opportunities and investment are on the horizon for the Highlands and Islands. 

Whether you have an existing relationship with HIE or not, we want to hear from your organisation about your digital and technology needs or ambitions. 

Theresa 

enquiries@hient.co.uk 

Tha Theresa Swayne a’ smaoineachadh air Seachdain ùr-ghnàthachadh na -Alba agus a’ bruidhinn mun taic a tha ri fhaighinn aig HIE.

Gabhail ri àm teachdail didseatach sa Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan airson soirbheachadh dùthchail  

Thaisbean Seachdain Ùr-ghnàthachaidh na h-Alba, an neart a tha a’ fàs ann an saoghal taic dhidseatach is teicneòlais air a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s anns na h-Eileanan.
A’ togail air seasgad bliadhna de sheilbheachd ann an tele-chonaltradh, bann-leathan agus co-cheangailteachd, tha HIE a’ leantainn air a’ coileanadh pàirt dheatamach ann an suidheachadh na roinne gus grèim a ghabhail air cothroman didseatach cruinneil. Ged a tha dùbhlain an làthair, tha an dealas a thaobh soirbheachas didseatach dùthchail nas làidire na bha e a-riamh.

Tha am fiosrachadh bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba mu £bn de sheilbheachd ann an AI leis an RA, air ceist a thogail: Dè tha seo a’ ciallachadh don Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan?

Am biodh e comasach do ar cumhachd ath-nuadhachail na h-ionadan dàta uaine a chumhachdachadh san àm ri teachd, obraichean a chruthachadh, a’ cleachdadh dàta (a’ gabhail a-steach dàta geo-spàsail) gus dèiligeadh ri ar dùbhlain dùthchail a thaobh còmhdhail, cùram-slàinte agus foghlam? Cò ris a bhios ar n-àite-obrach agus ar dreuchdan coltach san àm ri teachd, dè na sgilean air am bi feum aig daoine?

Chan urrainn dhuinn seasamh nar tàmh. 

Tha HIE dealasach a thaobh crìochan os-ghabhail air didseatachd dhùthchail a phutadh a-mach. Tha àireamh de dh’iomairtean ùra air an ainmeachadh, a tha a' gealltainn air comasachdan teicneòlasach na roinne a chruth-atharrachadh, agus gu fìor chudromach, taic a thoirt do bhuidhnean ionadail.   

Prògram Os-ghabhail AI

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air £1 millean de mhaoineachadh ainmeachadh airson Prògram Os-ghabhail Inntleachd Fuadain, air a dhealbhadh gus gnothachasan agus iomairtean sòisealta a chuideachadh le AI amalachadh a-steach do an obrachaidhean.  Tha an iomairt nàiseanta seo na co-obrachadh eadar HIE, Iomairt na h-Alba, Iomairt Ceann a Deas na h-Alba, Ionad Ùr-ghnàthachaidh an Obair-lann Dàta agus Caidreachas AI na h-Alba.

Tha taic a’ gabhail a-steach:

·         Eàrlas rannsachaidh AI

·         Sgeama meantorachd AI

·         Tursan ionnsachaidh do phrìomh ghnothachasan is thachartasan AI

·         agus Àrd-Choinneamhan AI Eaconamaidh Dùthchail air feadh Alba ron Fhaoilleach 2026.

Prìomhachadh taic Os-ghabhail Didseatach is Teicneòlais do bhuidhnean ionadail

Tha pàirt ghnìomhach aig HIE ann am prìomhachadh taic do os-ghabhail didseatach is teicneòlais do ghnothachasan, iomairtean sòisealta, agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd is saor-thoileach, a tha riatanach airson fàs eaconamach agus soirbheachadh air feadh na roinne againn.

Le bhith a’ solarachadh maoineachadh, goireasan, agus comhairle eòlach, bidh HIE a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun urrainn do ar n-iomairtean ionadail buaidh fhaotainn bho na teicneòlasan as ùire gus fuireach farpaiseach agus soirbheachadh san t-saoghal dhidseatach. Tha sinn a’ leantainn ag obair còmhla ri ar co-obraichean aig an SCVO Digital gus dèanamh cinnteach à in-ghabhail didseatach san treas roinn agus air a thaobh a-muigh.   

Tha ar tabhartasan Prògram Os-ghabhail Didseatach is Teicneòlais airson comhairle dhidseatch is uidheamachd agus pròiseactan, fosgailte do cheistean bho bhuidhnean sam bith a tha stèidhichte san roinn.  

Fulangas Saidhbhear – bi mothachail do na bagairtean

Còmhla ris a’ chothrom dhidseatach, dàta agus AI, thug Seòmar Malairt Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd aoigheachd do cho-labhairt-lìn mu thèarainteachd saidhbeir san robh sinn toilichte com-pàirteachadh agus obair Com-pàirteachas Saidhbeir Alba Riaghaltas na h-Alba adhartachadh. Shoillsich an tachartas seo cudromachd a bhith a’ beachdachadh air na cunnartan cho math ris na cothroman a tha a’ tighinn le cruth-atharrachadh didseatach.  

Mar a bhios gnothachasan a’ gabhail ri teicneòlasan ùra, tha e riatanach a bhith furachail mu bhagairtean saidhbeir agus ceumannan nas làidire tèarainteachd a chur nan àite gus dàta dìomhair a dhìon agus earbsa chustamairean a ghleidheadh. Tha buidhnean agus goireasan ri làimh a dh’fhaodas cuideachadh le goireasan an-asgaidh agus tachartasan a fhreagairt tro Chom-pàirteachas Saidhbeir Alba, a’ gabhail a-steach Ionad Tèarainteachd Saidhbeir Nàiseanta agus Ionad Foill is Saidhbeir Alba.  Le buidhnean leithid ScotlandIS a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil roinn Eaconamaidh Didseatach Alba agus riatanasan sgilean a’ faotainn taic san àm ri teachd. 

Coimhead air adhart ri Seachdain na Gnàth-shìde agus àite Ùr-ghnàthachaidh Didseatach

Mar a bhios sinn a’ gluasad a dh’ionnsaigh Seachdain na Gnàth-shìde, tha e soilleir gu bheil ùr-ghnàthachadh didseatach agus gnìomh a thaobh gnàth-shìde a’ dol le chèile. Tha a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan ann am fìor dheagh shuidheachadh airson a bhith a’ stiùireadh san roinn seo, eadar gur ann tro ionadan dàta le cumhachd ath-nuadhachail, fuasglaidhean còmhdhail dùthchail no innealan didseatach a tha a’ cur taic ri coimhearsnachdan seasmhach.  

Bruidhneamaid mu d’ amasan didseatach  

Tha àm teachdail na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean nas deàlraiche na bha e a-riamh, le cothroman àibheiseach aig gnothachasan, iomairtean sòisealta, buidhnean saor-thoileach agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd tarsainn nan roinnean uile, air ùr-ghnàthachadh agus fàs.

Le bhith a’ gabhail ri iomairtean didseatach agus teicneòlais, faodaidh sinn dèanamh cinnteach gum fuireach an roinn againn aig fìor thoiseach ùr-ghnàthachaidh. Tha sinn a’ fuireach àrd-amasach mun àm ri teachd – tha cothroman ùra agus seilbheachd air fàire don Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan.

Eadar gu bheil dàimh làithreach agad le HIE no nach eil, tha sinn airson cluinntinn bhon bhuidheann agad mu na h-ard-amasan no na feumalachdan didseatach agus teicneòlais a tha agad.

Theresa 

enquiries@hient.co.uk