4: Digital Innovation

Building on a foundation of strong infrastructure and inclusion, our vision for Gloucestershire is to fully leverage our digital assets, skills, connectivity, and creativity. We aim to attract world-class businesses while empowering our residents to thrive in the digital age.

We understand the significance of forging partnerships, creating strategic plans, and implementing pilot projects that bring our ambitions to life. Our commitment is to cultivate a culture of innovation, one that transforms public services, drives economic growth, and ensures every community flourishes in this digital era.

Those companies that don’t evolve and innovate will eventually face decline, so we aspire for our county to be a national leader in digital transformation. This strategy outlines a clear direction: to be ambitious in our approach to digital, not only to attract leading businesses but also to strengthen and grow our existing enterprises. Our focus extends beyond merely adopting new technologies; it is about shaping their use to work smarter, more efficiently, and more compellingly, creating more successful companies and driving economic progress.

A thriving innovation ecosystem is essential for nurturing existing businesses, attracting new investments, and creating high-quality job opportunities that promote wage growth. Thanks to a diverse and digitally skilled workforce, Gloucestershire is a prime destination for companies looking for innovation-ready talent. Entrepreneurs and start-ups can flourish in our supportive digital environment, which accelerates new ventures and fosters economic resilience.

As we embark on this journey, we introduce the concept of "Smart People, Smart Gloucestershire." Through this initiative, we will create smart futures that prioritize sustainability and inclusivity. Together, we will develop partnerships, strategic plans, and pilot projects that will turn our visionary goals into tangible realities. By nurturing an innovative spirit, we aim to build a resilient and future-ready Gloucestershire for generations to come.

A digitally innovative Gloucestershire is vital for:

Positioning Gloucestershire as a national leader in digital transformation
Stimulating high-value job creation and entrepreneurship
Harnessing the value of emerging technologies such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT)
Enabling data-driven decision-making across sectors
Attracting investment and talent to the region
Promoting inclusive innovation that benefits all communities
Strengthening digital resilience and sustainability
Empowering libraries and community hubs as centres of innovation
Encouraging collaboration between public, private, and VCSE sectors
Enhancing public service delivery through smart solutions
Supporting civic participation through digital democracy tools

21) As we embrace the potential of AI, big data, and innovative solutions, we are committed to ensuring that no part of our economy is left behind. Our approach is rooted in ambition, accessibility, and collaboration.

22) Our vision is to create a connected digital ecosystem that links communities, businesses, and public services. This will be achieved through four key themes: Smart People, Smart Gloucestershire, Smart Futures, and Smart Sustainability.

Smart People - Empowering individuals and organisations with the skills and support to thrive in a digital world.

23) We will learn from the digital leaders in the county and create a culture of collaboration so that our companies and workforce have the skills they need to compete.

24) Working with the Growth Hub, we aim to empower digitally proficient individuals and businesses to maximise their potential. This includes targeted training programmes to enhance digital skills and partnerships with local organisations to create inclusive pathways into digital careers.

25) We will also explore how to nurture a culture of lifelong digital learning by embedding digital inclusion into everyday services and community spaces. This includes supporting digital champions, mentoring schemes, and peer-to-peer learning networks that empower individuals to build confidence and resilience in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Smart Gloucestershire - Creating digitally connected places that support economic growth and community wellbeing.

26) We will explore ways to develop smart places where people and organisations interact seamlessly with digital infrastructure. This will include looking at how digital data sharing can support regeneration and economic development, and how smart city capabilities can be extended beyond urban centres into rural communities.

Smart Futures - Driving long-term innovation, investment, and digital ecosystem growth.

27) By strengthening Gloucestershire’s digital ecosystem and promoting the use of AI, it will support sectors that have been affected by digitisation. This includes growing centres of excellence in cybersecurity, Agri-tech, and advanced engineering, and attracting talent and investment to the region.

28) By working with digital leaders we will ensure that as digital technology evolves and changes so does the scope and content of the digital innovation programme.

Smart Sustainability - Using digital tools to support environmental goals and long-term resilience.

29) We will explore how digital technologies can support climate action across Gloucestershire. This includes using data analytics and artificial intelligence to identify and accelerate low-carbon opportunities, such as optimising energy use in public buildings, improving transport efficiency, and supporting nature-based solutions. By integrating digital tools into environmental strategies, we can more effectively monitor progress and target interventions where they will have the most significant impact.

30) We will also examine how to invest in digital infrastructure that enables secure data sharing through digital platforms, encouraging collaboration between communities, businesses, and public services. By making data more accessible and actionable, we can unlock innovation and ensure that digital transformation contributes to a greener, fairer future for all.

Proposition:

We are at the beginning of our digital innovation journey, and our initial focus is on laying the groundwork through research and strategic partnerships. This early phase will help us understand the opportunities and challenges across our four key pillars:

Empowering Smart People through digital skills and inclusion
Shaping a Smart Gloucestershire with connected infrastructure and services
Exploring Smart Futures that anticipate emerging technologies and community needs
Ensuring Smart Sustainability by embedding long-term resilience and environmental responsibility into our digital plans

Smart People
Focused on developing individual and workforce digital capabilities.

Emerging Technologies Training: Provide targeted training in AI, IoT, and data analytics to empower digitally capable individuals and businesses.
SME Digital Support: Offer tailored support to small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt and benefit from emerging technologies.
Cyber Essentials Support: Help businesses and charities achieve Cyber Essentials Certification through a knowledge hub and cyber advisor network.
Digital Innovation Fellowship Programme: Embed experts from academia, industry, or the public sector within local organisations to co-design and test digital solutions.

Smart Gloucestershire
Centred on place-based innovation, infrastructure, and partnerships.

Smart Places Development: Integrate digital infrastructure into regeneration and placemaking to enhance community vitality.
Community Digital Sandboxes: Pilot smart sensor technologies in selected neighbourhoods or towns.
Collaborative Partnerships: Partner with local tech companies, universities, and innovation hubs to pilot digital solutions for community challenges.
Sector Collaboration: Facilitate cross-sector collaboration to co-design innovative digital services.
Governance Framework: Develop a governance model to oversee digital innovation aligned with countywide priorities.

Smart Futures
Aimed at long-term innovation, experimentation, and ecosystem growth.

Digital Innovation Labs: Establish labs in libraries and community hubs to support experimentation and advanced digital engagement.
Digital Ecosystem Growth: Attract investment and talent by strengthening Gloucestershire’s digital ecosystem through strategic partnerships.
Digital Innovation Grant: Create a funded grant to help SMEs and charities to fund the adoption of new technologies and develop better ways of working.

Smart Sustainability
Ensuring inclusive, equitable, and responsible digital transformation.

Digital Inclusion Impact Assessments: Embed assessments into all innovation projects to ensure accessibility and equity from the outset.

Performance and Monitoring