:

  • Plan your event
  • Why Scotland
  • Resources & support
  • News
  1. Home
  2. Five minutes with CENSIS, a VisitScotland Transformation Protocol Partner

Five minutes with CENSIS, a VisitScotland Transformation Protocol Partner

Sian Williamson, Associations & Sectors
4 minutes • May 14, 2025

Scotland has led global innovation since the Industrial Revolution. With expertise in wireless communication, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), digital health, software, and sensor technologies, it offers a skilled workforce and advanced capabilities.

A hub for innovation, technology and  sustainability, Scotland is a progressive and knowledgeable destination for business events in these sectors. 

IoT system installed at Calanais Stones, Isle of Lewis

IoT system installed at Calanais Stones, Isle of Lewis

© Mark Waters/CENSIS

Censis - Innovation Specialists

“

They help businesses and organisations make steps towards a final commercial product.

Glasgow-based CENSIS are innovation specialists in the advanced digital technologies that are transforming our world. They help businesses and organisations make steps towards a final commercial product, secure investment, or incorporate advanced technologies to save time and money across internal supply chains.

We spoke to Sian Williams, Communications and Marketing Manager at CENSIS about what being a Transformation Protocol partner means to them and how it helps facilitate more engaging events as well as promote positive socio-economic change in Scotland.

Learn more about Censis.

Read about VisitScotland Business Events’ Transformation Protocol.

“

We see the partnership with VisitScotland Business Events as a mutually beneficial opportunity to help showcase Scottish innovation and foster meaningful connection with global delegates.

Long-term impact

CENSIS became a VisitScotland Business Events Transformation Protocol partner when it saw how the protocol could help support greater international engagement of its activities as well as promote Scotland’s strengths and capabilities in technology innovation, particularly around digitalisation and the IoT.

The CENSIS Technology Summit is a key fixture in the annual Scottish technology calendar. It attracts a primarily Scottish audience, but over the years there has been increased interest from companies and academics from Europe as well as internationally – welcoming delegates from as far afield as the USA, South America, and Asia.

Sian Williams, Communications and Marketing Manager, CENSIS, said: “We see the partnership with VisitScotland Business Events as a mutually beneficial opportunity to help showcase Scottish innovation, foster meaningful connection with global delegates, and contribute to the protocol’s goal of using business events as a catalyst for knowledge exchange and long-term economic and social impact.”

Calanais Stones, Isle of Lewis

Calanais Stones, Isle of Lewis

© Mark Waters/CENSIS

Innovation success stories

CENSIS’ engineering experts have worked on innovation challenges in a range of sectors important to Scotland’s economy. Together with the Landmark Forest Adventure Park, a nature-based theme and adventure park near Aviemore, they deployed IoT to optimise its operations and enhance the experience of its 160,000 annual visitors.

On the Isle of Lewis, their expertise in advanced digitalisation technologies helped safeguard the cultural legacy of the historically important exhibits held at the Ravenspoint Centre Museum. Also on Lewis, new IoT-enabled visitor monitoring sensors are enabling hospitality and tourism businesses on the island to understand patterns in visitor numbers and predict busy periods, with a pilot system already installed at the Calanais Stones. CENSIS has even digitised part of the West Highland Way, tracking the number of walkers heading towards Gartness and Drymen, so that local businesses can monitor the demand for their services.

In the food and drink sector, CENSIS collaborated with award-winning artisan gin distillery Roehill Springs, to incorporate blockchain technology into its supply chain in what is believed to be one of the first direct uses of sensor data with blockchain.

Supporting sustainability in Scottish aquaculture is also on CENSIS’ radar, with the development of new technologies for modular fish farming and advances in water quality monitoring.

Landmark Forest Adventure Park

Ravenspoint Centre Museum

Calanais Stones

West Highland Way

Roehill Springs

“

Events are an important part of CENSIS’ engagement strategy and include smaller informal events like networking evenings and meetups, through to technical exploration workshops and their annual conference.

Making connections

Growing its international engagement through events and connecting its existing European and international audience with Scotland’s vibrant innovation ecosystem is a key reason CENSIS joined the Transformation Protocol. The partnership with VisitScotland Business Events helps facilitate the vital knowledge exchange that supports long-term economic, environmental, and social transformation – precisely the kind of added value the protocol seeks to unlock.

CENSIS has many different channels for dialogue with its stakeholders – whether universities and colleges, private industry or the wider public sector including Scottish Government and local authorities. Events are an important part of CENSIS’ engagement strategy and include smaller informal events like networking evenings and meetups, through to technical exploration workshops and their annual conference. 

“

CENSIS plans to invest in long-term strategic industries, particularly in the future of telecare and sustainable electronics.

Driving innovation and partnerships

The next phase of growth for CENSIS will involve developing its existing relationships with the public sector and enhancing its reputation as a trusted adviser and delivery partner. Alongside this, they will continue working with ambitious companies on innovation projects that help them to thrive. Similarly, they will continue outreach activities and encourage the advancement of Scotland’s technology ecosystem.

CENSIS plans to invest in long-term strategic industries, particularly in the future of telecare and sustainable electronics. Strong bonds with universities and colleges remain important as they endeavour to form deeper relationships with research groups whose work can benefit society and the economy.

Product creation, developed from their own IPs, will become a core part of their future strategy. Their first two products, a system for monitoring fire door use and one for monitoring energy use, are already on the market and will soon to be followed by others.

Collaborate with our Transformation Protocol partners when you bring your event to Scotland.

Visit this page to find out more.

Newsletter Sign up

Subscribe here to our newsletter for updates, articles and insights from across the Scottish business events sector.
Sign up Now

About us

  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Policy

Our other sites

  • Business Support Hub
  • VisitScotland for Business
  • VisitScotland for Leisure
  • Scotland.org

Find us on

Find us on

Brand Scotland

© 2025 VisitScotland. All rights reserved.