Applications for the Futurescot AI Challenge 2025 are now open. The Futurescot AI Challenge 2025 is a competition to bring together Scottish public sector organisations to solve problems through the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help the public sector to increase productivity, save money, and improve services, if harnessed effectively, responsibly and ethically. This competition invites public sector organisations to use AI to solve real-world problems. The Futurescot AI Challenge was conceived by Futurescot and their technology partner, Storm ID – two organisations bound by their mutual dedication to Scotland’s digital technology sector.

Benefits

The challenge offers multiple benefits for participants:

• Gain insight into the application of AI;
• Explore and accelerate AI use cases with no financial and minimal resource commitment;
• Shortlisted organisations will receive an in-person workshop and proof of concept to bring their idea to life. As well as a chance to show their idea at the biggest yearly public sector digital transformation event in Scotland.

Eligibility

• Open to all public sector organisations in Scotland, including the Scottish Government and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), Local Government, Health and Social Care and arms-length organisations (ALEOs).

Judging Criteria

• Social impact: Potential to improve your organisation and the services it provides
• Responsibility & Ethics: Alignment with core principles and practices outlined in Scotland’s National AI Strategy, AI Register and AI Playbook
• Scalability: Ability to scale the application across other parts of the organisation or wider public sector
• Innovation: How creatively the idea uses data and AI technology
• Feasibility: The practicality and cost-effectiveness of implementation
• Sustainability: Ensuring the application of AI is compliant with key Net Zero and Carbon Emissions Reduction targets

Application

Your organisation submits an idea via the online application form. Illustrating how your concept uses AI to improve outcomes for citizens in Scotland. Submissions close on August 22, 2025.

For more information, visit Futurescot AI Challenge.