Scotland is strengthening its position in geospatial technology after the Scottish Government became the first UK administration to sign a Collective Membership Agreement with the Association for Geographic Information (AGI).
The agreement gives nearly 150 public sector organisations access to AGI resources and membership benefits, including central government departments, emergency services, community councils and environmental bodies.
The move is intended to encourage greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and digital transformation across Scotland’s public sector, while supporting future economic growth through geospatial projects.
Geospatial technology underpins services ranging from digital mapping and smart infrastructure to transport and environmental planning.
The UK sector is valued at £6 billion a year, employs almost 40,000 people and attracted at least £1.2 billion in investment between 2013 and 2024.
Scotland is well placed to benefit, with up to 11% of UK geospatial companies registered north of the border.
The agreement also supports Scotland’s wider economic priorities. Geospatial technology has been identified as an important area for investment in fields including energy transition, transport decarbonisation and the growing space sector.
The Scottish Space Strategy aims to establish Scotland as "Europe’s leading space nation" by 2030, with the space sector already contributing around £880 million to the country’s gross value added.
AGI Scotland will provide participating organisations with access to professional development, networking opportunities, seminars and career support.
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Alan Corbett, head of geospatial at the Scottish Government, said: "This is an exciting opportunity with a view to delivering economic growth through future geospatial projects."
Bruce Gittings, chair of AGI Scotland and senior lecturer in geographic information at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Scotland leads the way in geospatial innovation within the UK and this agreement will allow greater integration and growth."
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