Accelerating digital innovation in Welsh public services

Innovative digital solutions to public sector challenges are set to be tested in Wales as funding for five new projects is announced.

Welsh Government, innovation charity Nesta and Cardiff University are supporting five new projects to accelerate the development and testing of digital solutions to major public service challenges such as housing, education and the environment.

Selected from a wide range of applications from across Welsh public services, five digital innovators in Wales – with projects that vary from using digital mapping for intelligence-led grass fire prevention to the provision of new digital tenancies for housing association tenants – will each receive up to £20,000 to test their ideas and share learning within their own and other organisations.

Intended to support organisational change and help integrate new technologies across Wales, the projects are funded as part of the Digital Innovation Fund, which was launched by Welsh Government in November and is led by Y Lab, a new joint Cardiff University-Nesta public services innovation lab for Wales.

Minister for Public Services, Leighton Andrews, AM, said: “Public services in Wales are facing tough times financially. Improving their digital offer can help improve access to services and outcomes for citizens despite diminishing budgets.

“The five projects successful in securing funding will broaden access to online learning, improve data capture to target services better, or potentially digitise an entire service.

“I hope that some of these small innovative projects can be scaled up to have a significant impact on public services in Wales.”

Simon Brindle, Nesta Director of Y Lab said: “The Digital Innovation Fund is a vital way to develop and trial innovative solutions to the challenges facing public services in Wales. We were delighted with the calibre of applications received and after much deliberation we have selected five projects that have the potential to impact on digital technologies and radically reshape service delivery and efficiency.”

Dr Adam Fletcher, Academic Director of Y Lab, said: “This is an excellent example of how universities can support innovation in public services. Cardiff University is excited to be leading this new collaborative project to support and share new digital approaches to solving problems facing public services in Wales.”

The projects funded are:

Technology enabled learning in Neath Port Talbot Colleges (NPTC) Group: developing embedded technology to change the ways further education students learn.

Digital tenancies in Melin Homes: enhancing tenancy services through digital tools and service design, and testing options for low cost digital access for tenants with no current experience of digital services.

Geospatial mapping to help Welsh Government prevent grass fires: developing predictive mapping tools to support emergency services to prevent deliberate grass fires.

Sensor technology for smart flood prevention: trialling sensor technologies across Cardiff Council’s water drainage system to enable strategic planning with the aim of reducing flood risks.

Collaborative arts and culture data sharing: Arts Council for Wales and National Museums for Wales will work in partnership to develop and pilot new data analytic systems that provide new insights into the cultural sector and enhance customer communications.