FORMER McLaren Formula One pit crew member Marc Priestly will open a data event in Aberdeen next week.
DataFest Aberdeen will celebrate data innovation in all its forms, as well as its benefits for business and the economy when it rolls into the north-east.
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Priestly will launch the event, being held at Schoolhill’s ONE Tech Hub, with a keynote presentation, showcasing the central role data has to play in his industry.
Other presentations, at the Scottish Enterprise ‘Beyond Data’ seminar will include SIMEC Atlantis Energy and Aberdeen based Opex Group.
Delegates will also learn of plans for the world’s first ocean powered data centre in Caithness from SIMEC Atlantis chief executive officer Tim Cornelius.
Mr Cornelius said: “Data is arguably becoming the world’s most valuable resource, and the amount of data requiring storage is increasing at a staggering pace.
“However, data centres are undeniably power-hungry and the clients of data centre operators are rightly demanding power be sourced from renewable and sustainable sources.”
Digital representatives from the Offshore Renewables Energy Catapult will also provide data-innovation insight related to offshore wind technology as well as an update on supply chain engagement opportunities the ORE Catapult offers.
Julie Roberts, Scottish Enterprise digital economy lead, said: “The north-east of Scotland has a strong heritage of innovation and is globally recognised for the technologies that have been developed for use in the North Sea.
“Energy transition has been hailed as a potential ‘green boom’ and set alongside the emerging area of ‘climate tech’ with data-driven innovation at its core, DataFest Aberdeen and regional fringe events will shine a spotlight on world-leading projects happening here.”
DataFest Aberdeen is part of a wider two-week festival led by The Data Lab taking place across the country from March 9 – 20.
