IT innovation, research and development

Driving intelligence – behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we go behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software R&D centre. The UK’s largest supercomputer has gone live in Cambridge – we find out how it will transform healthcare research. And we talk to DWP’s digital chief about the restructuring of its IT capabilities. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Tech and new experiences tackling trouble at t’mall

UK shopping centres are under pressure, but new concepts, tech-infused spaces, and fresh approaches to consumer engagement are revitalising the sector Continue Reading

By

• Ben Sillitoe

How GSK Consumer Healthcare builds out its platform business

GSK Consumer Healthcare’s products are sold through retailers and chemist shops, and it is now connecting directly with consumers through APIs Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Developers have a moral duty to create ethical AI

Corsight AI publishes report on how organisations can develop more human-centric AI and biometric technologies Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

CIO interview: Claire Dickson, group CIO, DS Smith

Settling into her new role, Claire Dickson is working with the business to make strategic progress, smart, data-led changes and create a five-year digital strategy Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Why identity is the central problem for the future of the internet

As debate rages over who has the right to control user identities online, is the concept of decentralised identity about to have its day? Continue Reading

By

• Nick Lambert

CIO interview: Ian Cohen, CPIO, Acacium Group

Acacium’s chief product and information officer joined the healthcare specialist in the midst of the pandemic, and is responsible for data, product, business process and automation Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

CW Middle East: Pandemic speeds up edtech revolution in Gulf

One of the lessons the Covid-19 pandemic has taught governments across the world is that education providers can still teach when their premises are inaccessible. Read how organisations in the Gulf region’s education sector have been quick to adopt the latest education technology, known as edtech, to help in this endeavour. Also read in this issue how Indian IT services company TCS is bringing together universities, businesses, tech startups and government to work on sustainability challenges. Continue Reading

Social robots on the rise in the Netherlands

The acceptance of robots being used in everyday life is making significant strides, but this is just the beginning Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Former Bank of England CIO joins Co-op Group as CTO

Rob Elsey joins the Co-op Group at a time when the organisation is undergoing major digital transformation Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

NCS outlines regional expansion plans

IT service provider NCS is going after the high-growth markets of Australia and the Greater China region with core technology and industry-specific offerings as it pits itself against global rivals Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

The beneficial (and frightening) implications of virtualising reality

The mingling of virtual and physical worlds promises many beneficial and entertaining applications, but there are also some truly worrisome implications of augmented reality Continue Reading

By

• Martin Schwirn, Computer Weekly

Bank of England searches for new CIO amid once-in-a-generation project

The Bank of England is recruiting a head of IT during a period of major change in its core IT system Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Nordic fintech could lead the world

Will the Nordics become the fintech and open banking innovation capital of the world? Continue Reading

By

• Alex Cruickshank

UnaBiz makes foray into Japan

The Singapore-based IoT technology provider has opened an office in Tokyo to tap the groundswell of IoT deployments in utilities and other sectors Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CIO interview: Simon McKinnon, chief digital and information officer, DWP

The Department for Work and Pensions’ CDIO sheds light on its digital ambitions and how it is bringing more digital capability in-house through the integration of Benefits and Pension Digital Technology Services staff Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Klarna’s alumni thrive with new ventures after witnessing path to success

Former Klarna employees are using their experiences with the fintech giant to create the next wave of Swedish tech startups Continue Reading

By

• Matthew Staff

UK needs legislation with specific focus on biometric technologies

The UK’s former biometrics commissioner has told MPs that Parliament should explicitly legislate on the use of biometric technologies so it is clear to both police and private companies which uses are acceptable Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Post-pandemic recovery drives NHS digitisation

NHS staff see a role for remote healthcare to enable the health service to keep up with increased demands, according to iGov survey Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Why data and the pandemic are ripping up paper processes

We explore how the Covid-19 pandemic has forced businesses to rip out traditional paper processes and replace them with end-to-end digitisation Continue Reading

By

• Marc Ambasna-Jones

AWS launches bug-busting programme for developers

Amazon Web Services is inviting customers to probe their code for software bugs and vulnerabilities using its CodeGuru console Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Online Safety Bill unfit for purpose, says new campaign group

Campaign group set up to oppose Online Safety Bill says the duty of care is too simplistic, cedes too much power to US corporations and will, in practice, privilege the speech of journalists or politicians Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

IBM serves more AI power at Wimbledon 2021

The annual Wimbledon tennis championship is an event IBM uses to showcase the insights possible using Watson-based artificial intelligence applications Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Bahrain university uses Alexa on campus

University in Bahrain is using Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant to support users of its campus Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

EU regulators call for ban on biometrics in public spaces

European Union’s data protection regulators say facial recognition and other biometric identification technologies present too great a risk to fundamental human rights to be allowed in public spaces Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

CDEI: UK public wants clear algorithmic transparency policies

A research exercise by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has found the UK public wants clear, easy-to-understand information about algorithms in use by the public sector Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Boris Johnson unveils plans for National Science and Technology Council

Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to set up a National Science and Technology Council, which will help the UK realise and maximise the opportunities of scientific and technological breakthroughs Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

GlobalFoundries to open new fab in Singapore

US chip foundry GlobalFoundries is building a $4bn semiconductor fabrication plant in Singapore to expand its manufacturing capacity as chip demand surges worldwide Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CIO interview: Daniel Duran, CIO, Concha y Toro

Winemaker Concha y Toro’s CIO talks about how to combine 150 years of winemaking tradition with pioneering technology Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

NHSX set to unveil post-Covid data strategy

The smart use of patient data could power new AI-based healthcare systems and speed up the discovery of new treatments Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

NHS App reaches six million users, thanks to Covid vaccine feature

More than two million new users have downloaded the NHS App since it was updated in May to include Covid-19 vaccination status Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

ICO issues guidance on facial recognition in public spaces

Information commissioner’s concern over the problematic use of facial recognition in public spaces has prompted her to publish official guidance on its deployment, while civil society calls for an outright ban Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Lorca Ignite programme targets breakout cyber talent

Six of the most successful companies to have come through Lorca’s existing accelerators are being inducted into an intensive programme Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK taskforce calls for cutting GDPR protections

The UK’s Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform has recommended scrapping safeguards against automated decision-making contained in the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Technology takes centre stage in UK government reform

The government’s tech recovery programme includes a pledge to shift towards data interoperability and phasing out legacy systems Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

GDS to improve Gov.uk with user monitoring

Gov.uk’s measurement approach is expected to enhance the experience of 335 million users of the government’s online platform Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

CIO interview: Warren Breakstone, S&P Global Market Intelligence

S&P’s managing director and chief product officer for data management solutions talks about using data to make better decisions and how to continue innovating in a fast-moving market Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Tech features high on McKinsey’s disruption list

The management consulting firm has published a list of innovations that could disrupt business models, with many related to IT Continue Reading

Singapore universities to develop cooling solutions for tropical datacentres

The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University will research on cooling technologies that help to lower the power consumption and carbon footprint of topical datacentres Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Amazon Web Services launches space tech accelerator

Accelerator will see a cohort of 10 space startups use AWS to accelerate their research, development and growth Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Discovering great ideas – innovation at the Discovery Channel

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the owner of the Discovery Channel about how collaboration software enabled a culture of innovation. Our latest buyer’s guide looks at developments in cloud printing technology. And we hear from the technology chief at Rightmove about the online property site’s digital transformation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Scottish government awards digital identity platform contract to Scott Logic

Supplier is working on a two-year project to create a digital identity service through a suite of common platforms that will be adopted across Scottish government Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Europe’s proposed AI regulation falls short on protecting rights

The European Commission’s proposal for artificial intelligence regulation focuses on creating a risk-based, market-led approach replete with self-assessments, transparency procedures and technical standards, but critics warn it falls short of being able to protect people’s fundamental rights and mitigating the technology’s worst abuses Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Can technology help save the world’s oceans?

To tie in with World Oceans Day earlier this month, IBM hosted a panel discussion on the potential to use IT to support sustainable fishing Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UK and US to develop tech and science partnership

Partnership will explore collaboration in areas such as innovation, research, defence, security, intelligence and law enforcement, as well as making sure technology is ‘used as a force for good’ Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK altnets to invest nearly £12bn in fibre by 2025

Massive investments imminent by independent broadband providers to drive the creation and realisation of Gigabit Britain Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Google plots a course to address AI in manufacturing

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have the potential to change every industry – Google has set its sights on manufacturing Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cisco reveals new Webex to power ‘inclusive’ future of work

Collaboration suite has new look and feel, and supports hybrid work collaboration at what is claimed to be 40% lower cost than à-la-carte systems Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

How Discovery Inc spots great ideas

Many people talk about creating a culture of innovation, but this can take a lot of effort for organisations to do. We look at Discovery Inc's approach Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

NHS Digital delays data collection plans until September

NHS Digital has postponed its proposed collection of GP data for two months, to allow more time for the public to understand the process and opt out if wanted Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

National data guardian calls for dialogue on NHS Digital GP plans

The UK’s national data guardian says it is important the public has clarity on how their confidential medical information will be used and kept secure under NHS data-sharing plans Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

MoD launches digital strategy

The Ministry of Defence aims to invest an additional £1.6bn in digital over the next 10 years, and plans to establish a federated ecosystem of digital innovators and developers to ensure continuous progress Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

EC launches digital identity framework

The European digital identity will be available to citizens, residents and businesses across the EU, and member states will offer digital identity wallets on a national level Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NHS Digital’s GP data-scraping plan must be publicised and delayed

The UK government must launch a national awareness campaign and delay this month’s planned GP data slurp, say privacy consultants Ben Rapp and Sara Newman Continue Reading

By

• Ben Rapp and Sara Newman

The drive towards computational storage

The explosion in data is driving demand for faster computing and storage remains a bottleneck – but things are about to change Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor
• Adrian Bridgwater

BCS: Lack of communication over NHS GPDPR ‘astonishing’

The Chartered Institute for IT has warned that millions of people are not being properly informed of NHS Digital plans to harvest their data Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

IBM and Hartree partner on AI and quantum research

Hartree Centre joins IBM’s Digital Accelerator programme to further research into artificial intelligence and quantum computing Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Swedish university is behind quantum computing breakthrough

Chalmers University of Technology simplifies the process of measuring the temperatures of quantum computers during complex calculations Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

European-led consortium investigates quantum cryptography

The arms race to a quantum internet is under way – the European Commission is looking at secure critical national infrastructure and member state comms Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

NHS trust’s Pioneer data platform joins up care delivery and improves outcomes

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve patient care by bringing together anonymised health data from different care settings to better understand the patient journey Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IR35 reforms: Blanket-banning firms risk losing contractors and suffering reputational damage

Research by contrator-focused accountancy firm inniAccounts shines a light on how contractors are responding to their clients’ handling of the IR35 reforms Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

TCS opens its first European innovation centre in Amsterdam

Netherlands capital hosts TCS’s latest innovation hub, which will bring together an ecosystem to address the challenge of sustainability Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CW Nordics: Denmark takes a top-down approach to gender equality in tech entrepreneurship

Tech Nordic Advocates has adopted a new approach to closing the gender gap in Danish technology startups, looking to emulate Canada’s top-down approach. Also in this issue, find out the state of play with the adoption of open banking in Europe. Continue Reading

Singapore deploys drones to monitor reservoir water quality

Singapore’s national water agency PUB is deploying autonomous drones at six reservoirs to monitor water quality and other activities to improve operational efficiency Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Department for Education’s e-learning unpreparedness widens inequality among students

Department is ‘surprisingly resistant’ to a lessons-learned exercise based on findings during Covid, says Public Accounts Committee report Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

Build 2021: Code abstraction and automatic code generation

Microsoft’s annual software developers’ event, Build, opened up with the company’s CEO painting a picture of opportunity for software developers Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Google offers free tech skills training to UK jobseekers

Online training in areas such as IT support and UX design will be available through the Department for Work and Pensions Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

Stockholm’s startup scene seeks more diversity

Swedish capital has created a world-leading tech startup environment, but it still lacks the diversity of people needed to move it to the next level Continue Reading

By

• Matthew Staff

UK startups lack gender diversity in senior technical roles

Women account for about 2-3% of engineering and technology directors in startups and scaleups, says report Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

UK to have digital border by end of 2025

Home secretary’s plans for immigration reform include border crossing technology, online immigration status service and electronic travel authorisation system Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government pumps £166.5m into green technology

The government funding will be awarded to innovators, businesses and academics across the UK to develop technologies in carbon capture, greenhouse gas removal and hydrogen Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Innovation and skills at the heart of CBI report

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants an inclusive and innovative economy, with increased research and development (R&D) investment and better digital intensity and adoption, particularly among SMEs Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government Digital Service sets out three-year strategy

The new GDS strategy up to 2024 includes a focus on making Gov.uk a single, trusted source of information, joining up services, and creating a pan-government digital identity solution Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Alibaba taps machine learning to digitise Chinese classics

Alibaba’s research arm Damo Academy has developed a machine learning model to convert scanned pages of ancient Chinese classics into text Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government sets out implementation plan for genomics strategy

The 2021-22 implementation plan for government’s 10-year Genome UK strategy includes improving diversity of genomics data, rolling out whole genome sequencing to rare diseases patients, and delivering a proof of concept for a next-generation approach to cancer treatment Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK government publishes framework on automated decision-making

The framework focuses on making the use of algorithms and automated decision-making systems within the public sector more ethical, transparent and accountable Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Santander says sorry for weekend tech outage

Bank’s customers were unable to access multiple banking channels because of technical problems Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Australian budget lends support to digital economy

Australia’s A$1.2bn Digital Economy Strategy ticks most of the right boxes, but some industry experts say areas such as broadband infrastructure and artificial intelligence are still underfunded Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Withers

Half of UK workforce lacks essential digital skills for work

A ‘hidden middle’ of more than 17 million people do not have the abilities needed to participate and contribute to the digital world in life and at work, study says Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

How M1 is striving to be a digital telco

Singapore’s M1 is dialling up its digital chops by monetising its data, building more personalised services for subscribers, and going beyond connectivity as it evolves into a digital telco Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Cabinet Office launches climate challenges for startups

The Cabinet Office has partnered with government technology accelerator Public to run a programme for startups developing innovative digital and data technologies that can help with some of the most pressing climate issues Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Too many disconnected systems in government, says minister

Cabinet Office minister Julia Lopez wants to address issues with legacy systems, improve digital skills across government and improve department collaboration, including in procurement Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NHS Digital replaces system for collection of GP data

New system designed ‘with interests of patients at its heart’ will provide near-real-time primary care data to support improvements in healthcare and help research Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

UK to fund national cyber teams in Global South

Government will commit millions of pounds to supporting vulnerable countries in establishing cyber capacity Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Queen’s Speech approaches key themes for UK tech

From online safety to skills for the future, the speech contained several points that are relevant to the industry for the year Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

UK lagging in post-Covid AI-driven business recovery

Senior IT decision-makers across Europe see artificial intelligence adoption accelerating, but the UK is in the slow lane Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

IBM doubles down on AI and hybrid cloud

IBM is beefing up its core technology capabilities in artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud to speed up application modernisation and improve AI adoption Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

IBM: Another chip in the wall

Big Blue has developed technology it hopes will support semiconductor developments for the next decade Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Nordic real estate industry moves digital

The Nordic real estate is investing in technologies like IoT to prepare the sector for the changing demands from customers post-Covid Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Netherlands to build new national supercomputer

The Netherlands has laid out plans for its next national supercomputer, to be known as Snellius Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Executive interview: Juergen Mueller on SAP’s tech strategy

SAP CTO Juergen Mueller offers a glimpse into the company’s thinking around delivering business applications as microservices, among other areas and updates in its technology strategy Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government digital chiefs outline plans for CDDO and GDS

Paul Willmott, Joanna Davinson and Tom Read talk about establishing a digital, data and technology sub-board, plans to hire a chief technology officer and a chief data officer, and a five-year plan for the Government Digital Service Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Shadow ministers call for public consultation on health data review

Two Labour shadow ministers want a public consultation following the findings of Ben Goldacre’s review on the use of health data for research and analysis Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

How Transport for NSW is tapping machine learning

Transport agency in New South Wales taps machine learning to restore public confidence in the state’s transportation network amid the pandemic Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Tech firms unite to advance diversity and inclusion in the sector

The plan will focus on areas such as leadership representation and inclusive product development Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

Government gets updated powers to intervene on tech-related M&A deals on national security grounds

The National Security and Investment Bill has secured royal assent, giving the government the legislative support it needs to intervene on business transactions in a variety of tech-related industries on national security grounds Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

G7 countries to cooperate on digital regulation

Digital and technology ministers outline their agenda for how technology can be used to facilitate the post-Covid recovery, signalling closer collaboration in key areas of the digital economy Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK demand for digital automation skills soars

The need for automation proficiency has more than doubled in the past two years, according to research Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

GCHQ: Dyslexic thinkers key to solving UK cyber security challenges

Neurodiverse staff are bringing a unique contribution to keeping the country safe, according to the intelligence and cyber agency Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari

CIO interview: Chris Porter, VP talent acquisition and matching, BP

With the help of digital technologies and recruitment of data-savvy talent, BP is aiming to become a net-zero business by 2050 Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels