Scottish Law and Innovation Network
SCOTLIN is a Scotland-focused collaboration and knowledge exchange hub that promotes impactful research, excellence in teaching, and societally beneficial law and policy innovations
The Scottish Law and Innovation Network (SCOTLIN) is a Scotland-focused collaboration and knowledge exchange hub that promotes impactful research, excellence in teaching, and societally beneficial law and policy innovations. SCOTLIN intends to promote the study and knowledge exchange on how the law can foster technological innovation in Scotland. A fundamental reassessment is needed in a rapidly changing geo-political and technological environment.
SCOTLIN creates synergies between the many Scotland-based outstanding organisations and individuals that are international leaders in the field of law and innovation. These include, but are not limited to, CREATe (UK Copyright & Creative Economy Centre, Glasgow), SCRIPT (Scottish Research Centre for IP and Technology Law, Edinburgh), CRISP (Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance & Privacy, Stirling, St Andrews, Edinburgh), SCILP (Strathclyde University’s Centre for Internet Law and Policy), the Scottish Society of Computers and Law, the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, and Open Rights Group Scotland. These organisations as well as the informal groups existing in other universities and outside academia currently lack a forum to coordinate their efforts and develop a distinct Scottish voice in innovation policy: this would be provided by SCOTLIN.
SCOTLIN’s mission is to promote the advancement of law & innovation research, teaching, practice, and policy in Scotland. To this end, SCOTLIN aims at bridging academic and professional silos in order to get the most out of our multidisciplinary knowledge in the field of law and innovation. It also aims to increase public awareness and education about key issues ranging from digital privacy to the regulation of AI, from business tech-readiness through to algorithmic accountability.
The subject matter of ‘Law & Innovation’ is twofold. On the one hand, it investigates how law regulates and enables technological innovation. On the other hand, it relates to the ways innovation can serve the rationale of the law. For instance, how emerging technologies can challenge or contribute to the legal profession, research, enforcement agencies, and policy making. Both areas encompass a range of fields such as Information Technology Law, Intellectual Property Law, Media Law, Cybersecurity, Legal informatics, Law & Economics, International Cooperation and Development Studies.
SCOTLIN will develop a distinct Scottish perspective on innovation and increase capacity to shape policy nationally and internationally. Our multidisciplinary co-founders have an expertise that goes beyond these core fields to include Computer Science, Public Management, Digital Media, Media Sport, Criminal Law, Consumer Protection, Labour Law, Human Rights, Tax Law, Jurisprudence, Legal Design, International Law, and Competition Law.