SCOTLAND’s innovation centre for sensing, imaging, and internet of things (IoT) technologies – Censis – has supported its 250th project since its inception, delivered more than £50 million in project value and created and retained almost 1000 jobs in Scotland over the last eight years.

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic and lockdowns, it said companies were still spending on research and development (R&D) after announcing it took on a further 21 projects between February and April, its most active quarter.

Their project value of £50m represents investment from industry, academic, and public sector partners in initiatives Censis has encouraged, with 100 projects taking a positive environmental focus.

“Historically, R&D has tended to be among the first costs to be cut in an economic downturn – but our experience of the last 18 months has been that companies recognise the benefits innovation can bring and remain keen to invest,” said Censis CEO Paul Winstanley.

“In fact, cash investment in R&D from many of the organisations we work with has actually increased, with an emphasis on digital and technologies that enable companies to operate remotely – whether through digital twins or remote asset monitoring.

“Business leaders increasingly recognise that innovation is a way for companies to keep themselves moving forward – whether that is by streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, or helping staff to focus on high-value work.

“Continuing to invest in R&D has seldom been more important to business resilience, particularly with remote working likely to remain a feature of how companies operate, and we expect innovation to remain a focus in the months and years ahead.”

The innovation centre’s 250th project is a major £12.5m initiative aiming to create three “communities of the future” in Glasgow, Dundee, and Moray, which is being delivered by a consortium of partners led by Blackwood Homes and Care.

It has received UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s Healthy Ageing Challenge.

The scheme aims to help older people in Scotland to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.

Neighbourhood will decide on their own focus, with an emphasis on community involvement and co-designing and testing innovations that support healthy ageing – such as improving accessibility to, and the adaption of, existing homes as well as the overall design of future housing.

Winstanley added: “The project with Blackwood Homes and Care is highly significant – bringing a large-scale initiative with potential UK-wide impact to Scotland.

“It also involves a broad range of industry, academic, and other innovation centre partners, underlining what can be achieved through collaboration.”

Censis has also formed a strategic partnership with the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme to support developing new technology that can tackle some of the biggest challenges facing public services.

Launched last month, CivTech 6 will see the innovation centre work with the Scottish Government’s digital directorate to define the biggest challenges facing critical public services – including climate change and Scotland’s transition to net zero, healthcare in the post-Covid world, supporting rural communities and managing educational estates for the benefit of pupils, teachers and the wider community.

“The partnership with Censis is the first time CivTech has worked in this way,” said Trade Minister Ivan McKee.

“It will help the public sector bring challenges forward and create new ways of working with companies to deliver technology that has a positive impact.”