By Kate Forbes, Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy

SCOTLAND’S digital economy is vibrant and varied. From businesses with a global reputation for digital excellence, to those taking their first tentative steps into online marketing or sales, we have seen fantastic digital progress as a nation to date. But I am intent on asking, and then answering, the question of what more we can do to become even more successful in an ever-evolving digital world.

For me, it starts with the vision of a Digital Scotland and then ensuring that the Scottish Government is flexible, driven and creative enough to make that vision a reality. As well as being clear about the steps we are taking to achieve sustainable economic growth in an increasingly connected world, I also want to be sure that technology is a means of including people rather than excluding them.

This has already been achieved in part through our digital strategy, but the policy challenges we face are never static. Not only are there new questions about ethics and the social consequences of artificial intelligence, there are challenges when it comes to cyber security as well as an immediate need to support our industries and universities though the uncertainties of Brexit. With all of this in mind, I want to start tackling some of these challenges by ensuring digital is as accessible as possible, for as many people as possible.

I believe that the Scottish Government can lead by example in this respect. We want to adopt a digital model that puts people first and responds to what people want us to do. This isn’t about window dressing through, say, updating our websites or putting forms online, but instead about fundamental reform. In other words, digital has to be about the way in which we work, rather than just the work that we do. This means open data, open standards and the use of open source technologies wherever possible. While this will all, of course, take time, it is important if we are to be a fully digital government – and that is something that I am committed to delivering.

I want the Scottish Government to be at the heart of our thriving digital ecosystem in order to help build a sustainable digital economy. This will best be done through collaboration so I want to take advice from the very best minds in the digital industry and open up public service challenges to other sectors to generate new ideas and stimulate new businesses.

Beyond that, I want to work in partnership to address common challenges such as the shortage of high quality skills and encourage cooperation that can help build Scotland’s international reputation as a digital country. As a government, we are committed to ensuring our future workforce has the necessary skills to embrace all the digital opportunities of 2019 and beyond. Of course, beyond government, we also want those opportunities to be widely available to people across the country.

That is why we recently announced a new £1 million Digital Start Fund to support people on lower incomes access the skills required for a career in the digital industries. Alongside digital initiatives which already exist to support businesses, such as the Digital Development Loan, this latest development shows that Scotland supports businesses and individuals who want to advance their digital ambitions.

Ultimately, I believe that if we continue to highlight Scotland’s fantastic digital industries in international markets then we will attract the investment that our digital businesses need to scale up their operations and become successful. This is vital if we are to ensure that we become a digital government, with a digital economy, in a digital society that is becoming ever more successful in a constantly changing digital world.