Tay5G Challenge Fund Announces Winners for Promising Innovations in Scotland

“The Tay5G challenge fund will allow us to make forward thinking innovations that were once thought of as science fiction into a working reality. Integration of 5G technology has the potential to improve our farming systems with the addition of in-field sensors, remote access capability and automated functionality on farm equipment”

Tay5G, a Tay Cities Region Deal project in collaboration with the Scotland 5G Centre and industry partners, has today announced the winners of its Challenge Fund.

This competitive funding initiative aims to accelerate the development of innovative projects utilising the power of 5G technology to transform various sectors. It has been supported with around £430,000 of Scottish Government funding as part of its £2million investment in Tay5G.

The winners of the challenge are Digiflec, Neutral Wireless working with QTV, James Hutton Ltd and Scotland Re:Design.

The fund attracted extensive interest and the winners, chosen from a wide range of great ideas, represent a diverse range of innovation. Supported by the adoption of 5G technology, these projects aim to bring about advancements in fashion, agritech, smart cities, and broadcasting, driving economic growth, and delivering tangible benefits to businesses and communities in Scotland and beyond.

Digiflec, a technology company, has been selected for their smart cities, digital twins and Internet of Things (IoT) project. By harnessing the power of 5G connectivity, Digiflec aims to create smart city solutions that improve the quality of life for residents and enhance urban infrastructure efficiency. Their project includes the development of smart, real-time traffic and people monitoring and management systems. Digiflec’s innovative approach to smart city development promises to make a significant impact by improving urban living and sustainability.

James Hutton Ltd is the commercial arm of the James Hutton Institute, a world-leading agriculture and agritech research organisation. The company has secured funding for ‘groundbreaking’ innovation. Leveraging 5G technology, their project aims to enhance precision in farming practices, increase crop yield and quality, and support sustainable agriculture. By deploying sensor networks, adding automation, and utilising real-time data analytics, the company aims to provide farmers with valuable insights and recommendations to optimise farming operations, reduce resource consumption, and improve overall productivity. These techniques have the potential to revolutionise agricultural practice and contribute to a more efficient and socially responsible food production system.

Agri-Tech specialist Andrew Christie from The James Hutton Institute added: “The Tay5G challenge fund will allow us to make forward thinking innovations that were once thought of as science fiction into a working reality. Integration of 5G technology has the potential to improve our farming systems with the addition of in-field sensors, remote access capability and automated functionality on farm equipment.

“Accessibility and repeatability are features we want to build into our 5G enabled systems, as we would like to see similar technology rollout by other farmers as an outcome from the project. In proving a use case demonstration for the application of 5G private networks in agriculture, we hope to show that the technology is at our fingertips, not beyond our grasp.”

Neutral Wireless, a sustainable mobile wireless technology company, is working in partnership with broadcasting company QTV. They have won funding for their project focused on improving broadcasting capabilities. Leveraging 5G technology, they aim to further enhance broadcasting infrastructure that supports high-quality, low-latency live streaming and remote production.

Tay5G and the Scotland 5G Centre continue to encourage and support the development of innovative 5G projects, fostering Scotland’s position as a leader in technological advancements. By embracing the opportunities presented by 5G, Scotland is set to unlock new possibilities and create a brighter future for its industries and citizens.

Scottish Government Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said: “I congratulate the winners on their innovative use of 5G technology, which promises to improve quality of life and drive sustainable economic growth within the Tay region.

“From improved farming to smarter city planning, broadcasting advances to virtual try before you buy fashion, these winning projects demonstrate the enormous variety of uses for this cutting edge 5G technology.

“The Scottish Government invested £2 million in Tay5G through the Tay Cities Region Deal and is working to ensure our substantial investments in Scotland’s digital infrastructure make the maximum impact on lives and livelihoods.”

For more information about the Tay5G Challenge Fund and the winners of this funding cycle, visit www.tay5g.com.

More information:

Challenge Fund Winners

Digiflec – https://digiflec.com/

James Hutton Ltd – https://www.huttonltd.com/

Neutral Wireless and QTV – https://www.neutralwireless.com/ – https://qtv.media/

Scotland Re:Design – https://redesign.scot/

The Scotland 5G Centre

The Scotland 5G Centre was set up in October 2019 as the national centre for accelerating the deployment and adoption of 5G and realising its economic and societal potential for Scotland. 

The S5GConnect Programme delivers the next stage of the Scottish Government’s 5G strategy with a series of hubs as part of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.  The Hubs support economic growth through the deployment and adoption of 5G services across the country and are supported by a £4m investment from the Scottish Government.