CGI, one of the world’s largest business and IT consulting firms in the UK, is pleased to announce Heriot-Watt University as the latest organisation to join its SEEDS (Sustainability Exploration and Environmental Data Science) research programme, supported by the United Nations (UN). This collaboration will spearhead ground-breaking research and solutions in tackling climate change, social inequality, and environmental degradation. 

The partnership will leverage the strengths and expertise of Heriot-Watt’s four global research institutes — iNetZ+, The Lyell Centre, The National Robotarium, and Health and Care Technologies — spread across five campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai, and Malaysia. Together, CGI and Heriot-Watt will collaborate to deliver innovative solutions spanning the depths of the ocean, to the frontiers of outer space. 

With a focus on promoting a just energy transition, where a healthy economy and a clean environment can and should co-exist, the collaboration aims to pioneer advancements in carbon capture and storage (CSS), sustainable materials, and alternative fuels. These initiatives will play a critical role in supporting the UN’s global climate goals and improving the quality of life around the world. 

Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer for CGI in the UK, said: 

“I am delighted to welcome Heriot-Watt University into CGI’s SEEDS programme. SEEDS is an exciting UN-backed initiative which is fundamentally committed to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. In joining, Heriot-Watt is bringing a huge depth of academic excellence in research and development, which, combined with our IT and business services expertise, will successfully challenge current thinking and practice around sustainability. This will in turn unlock new ways of driving transformational change in key global industries and sectors such as health, transport, logistics and brewing and distilling.”

David Richardson, Chief Entrepreneurial Executive for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said:  

“Both CGI and Heriot-Watt University have a significant presence across the world. In the case of Heriot-Watt, we have five campuses in three countries and our global network provides huge and innovative opportunities for businesses to collaborate with academia. We believe through this Memorandum of Understanding, and by joining SEEDS, CGI will help us utilise our strengths using new technologies at these campuses to drive larger scale innovation in complex areas such as the energy transition. These innovations will not only support the UN’s global agendas for climate change but also help improve the lives of citizens locally, nationally and  internationally.”