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Expertise at University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is one of the UK’s leading institutions in computer science and informatics. Times Higher Education (THE) named the School of Informatics the top Computer Science and Informatics department in terms of quality and breadth of our research, known as research power. But the expertise in data science and digital technologies is ubiquitous covering a wide range of areas and technologies including: 

  • data science 
  • supercomputing  
  • electronics 
  • digital communications 
  • AI, speech technology, and NLP  
  • robotics 
  • space and satellites  
  • quantum computing 
  • blockchain 
  • cybersecurity 
  • Internet of Things 

Data Science 

Data science technical teams can provide services such as data integration & mining, code design and software architecture. This technical expertise is complemented by our academic capability in areas including statistical modelling, machine learning, natural language processing, cyber security, bioinformatics, health data, geospatial data, and digital design and manufacture.  

Supercomputing 

EPCC is the UK’s leading supercomputing, or High Performance Computing (HPC), centre. Our HPC services allow public and private organisations to make new discoveries, create more reliable and efficient products and gain new insights in an increasingly data-intensive world, as well as solving advanced computational problems. At our Advanced Computing Facility (ACF), we host a remarkable collection of high-performance computing and data services. These include Public Health Scotland’s National Safe Haven and UK national research systems such as ARCHER2, and Cirrus, as well as smaller scale systems designed to explore new technologies. EPCC works with organisations of all sizes to unlock new frontiers of problem solving, prediction and data analysis. 

Electronics 

Our researchers use micro and nano fabrication, micro and nano-electronics & photonics, integrated with bespoke circuits and system-on-chip designs to create smart micro- and nano-systems. The Scottish Microelectronics Centre, based in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, offers commercial and academic clients access to state-of-the art facilities and in-house expertise in areas such as micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), semiconductor, and nano fabrication. 

Digital communications 

Our researchers develop theory, algorithms, and hardware for the next generation of signal processing, imaging and communication systems. We carry out research to support the next generation of technologies that will meet the challenges of ubiquitous and seamless data connectivity. Our expertise in signal and image processing spans fundamental theory through to algorithm design, with applications in a wide array of sectors across science and technology. 

Artificial Intelligence, speech technologies, and NLP 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to create intelligent machines by programming human-like traits such as perception, reasoning, problem-solving, learning and planning. Our expertise builds on a long tradition of AI research at the University of Edinburgh dating back to the early 1960s. Today our university is one of Europe’s largest centres for AI research, where several hundreds of researchers conduct ground-breaking research in fundamental and applied AI including speech technologies and large language models. 

Robotics 

Our research focuses particularly on how AI and data science can enhance the innovation and applications of robots and autonomous systems with the ultimate aim to benefit people and society. Established jointly by Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, the world-leading National Robotarium is the UK’s centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. We also host the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics (ECR), a doctoral training programme and working lab which focuses on safety and safe interaction between robots, people and their environments. Our expertise also includes soft robotics.  

Space and satellites 

Our activities focus particularly on gathering data through earth observation using remote sensing technologies such as satellites and using AI and data science for analysis of these datasets. The Edinburgh International Data Facility hosts large volumes of satellite and other geo-spatial data to enable new research and large-scale analysis in areas such as environmental sustainability, agricultural technologies and geo-spacial planning.  We support Scotland’s growing space industry focusing on areas such as the development of small satellites, risk management and fuel sustainability. 

Quantum Computing 

We host the largest Quantum Information group in the UK, led by the Chief Scientist of the National Quantum Computing Centre. Our research investigates the interaction between hardware, software, and end-user applications. Our strengths are algorithms & applications, software & programming languages, error correction & verification, and cryptography. We have unique expertise in hybrid-classical quantum computing approaches, which we believe are vital for exploitation of quantum advantage. 

Blockchain technology 

The Blockchain Technology Laboratory (BTL) network was created in 2016 through the initiative of R&D technology company IOHK. Research collaborations are interdisciplinary and include, beyond cryptography and computer science, economics, game theory, regulation and compliance, business, and law. The lab provides a direct connection between developers and researchers, helping to get projects live faster and pursues outreach projects with entrepreneurs in Edinburgh’s vibrant local technology community. 

Cybersecurity 

The University of Edinburgh is one of the leading cyber security research institutions in the UK and currently the only Scottish University recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research by the NCSC and EPSRC. Access the Edinburgh Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust Institute research expertise in Cryptography and Distributed Ledger, Privacy and Security for Devices, Protocol and Program Verification, Secure Future Networks, and Socio-technical, Human Factors, Law and Risk. 

Internet of Things 

University of Edinburgh has a Low Power Wide Area Network for IoT devices across 7,700km2, totalling some 10,000 devices and 100,000 sensing elements. We are currently engaged in a wide variety of projects across many sectors (transport, health, tourism, education, ecology, fintech), utilising various sensor technologies (audio, infra-red, accelerometers) and multi-modal communications technologies (Wi-Fi, BLE, LoRa, 5G). Applications include monitoring physical activity/interaction, wildlife and biodiversity, building occupancy and energy consumption, and also immersive telepresence applications. 

Digital Frontiers Showcase video recordings 

You can watch video highlights from our Digital Frontiers Showcase with experts sharing their expertise in AI, data science, quantum computing, robotics and more.