The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for data and artificial intelligence, has announced the return of its flagship two-week data festival following the incredible success of last year’s event.
Now in its fourth year, DataFest20 is returning to cities across Scotland via multiple events between the 9th and 20th of March, in what the Innovation Centre is promising will be the biggest and most exciting year yet.
DataFest aims to showcase Scotland’s leading role in data science and artificial intelligence on the international stage, with last year’s festival attracting more than 4,000 people attending 62 events across Scotland.
Each year, the festival focuses on an emerging theme for the industry, with DataFest20 set to go #BeyondData. Through a range of exciting events, speakers, workshops and discussions, The Data Lab aims to use the two-week festival as a platform to highlight the impact data and artificial intelligence is having on people’s lives, showcasing that real value lies beyond the data in how we use and apply it.
DataFest20 will see the return of successful events including Women in Data Science, Data Tech, Data Talent Scotland and the two-day Data Summit conference, which last year included high-profile speakers such as Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, Christopher Wiley, Google’s Chief Decision Scientist, Cassie Kozyrkov and First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Speakers for DataFest20 are expected to be announced in coming months.
Discussing the launch of DataFest20, Gillian Docherty, CEO of The Data Lab, said: “We are immensely proud of DataFest and it is fantastic to continue to see it grow each year. Everyone at The Data Lab works so hard on the event and we are thrilled to announce its return for 2020. DataFest has become a platform and community for industry, academia and public sector to come together, discuss key issues within the data science and artificial intelligence space and really showcase Scotland’s capabilities as a global leader in data innovation.
“Scotland can be at the forefront of change in data, and DataFest20’s theme focuses on how we can go beyond the data itself to make a difference and innovate for good. Through a range of exciting events, DataFest20 will go #BeyondData to show the real impact data and AI is having. DataFest19 was our most ambitious and successful event to date and we can’t wait to see what DataFest20 brings.”
Jude McCorry, Head of Business Development at The Data Lab, said: “The objective for DataFest is to bring together data leaders, practitioners, industry, public sector and academia to collaborate and discuss how data science and AI can benefit all and drive innovation.
“Last year, DataFest19 saw a total of 58 exhibitors showcasing their involvement in data science and AI across a range of our events, and we had more than 2,200 companies in attendance, all contributing to the success of the festival.
“We are certain DataFest20 will be bigger, more successful and more collaborative than ever. Once again, we’ll be hosting events all over Scotland aiming to spark innovation through collaboration, building skills and growing talent, all while championing Scotland’s data science community.”
For more information, please visit: https://www.datafest.global/