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What this section is

Papers are longer-form written pieces — structured arguments, documented cases, or analytical writing that goes beyond a short reflection. The standard for a paper is that it has a claim, evidence for that claim, and enough detail to be useful to a reader working through the same question independently. Content here draws from the Lessons from a Fintech project, the Business AI Alliance initiative, the Building Scotland conversation series, analytical writing connected to open banking, fintech GTM, and AI in regulated markets, and longer-form articles published on Medium and Substack.

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What makes it here

A piece is included as a paper if it has a defined argument (not just a description), if it is complete rather than exploratory, and if it adds something not already captured in the Knowledge or Frameworks sections. Papers often synthesise knowledge and frameworks into a specific applied context.

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Papers in this section

Is AI the ‘new oil’? traces the evolution of the “new oil” metaphor across three phases — data, identity, and AI — examining what broke in each era and what constraint will define the next decade. GenAI is the new platform argues that the binding force in AI platforms is not features but context — the accumulated instructions, memory, tools, data, and rules that make a model useful for your specific work. From Apps to AI-Generated Solutions examines how on-demand AI-generated functionality will shift tech value from pre-built software features to data, services, and APIs. Introduces the concept of Software-as-a-Prompt. The Startup Game has changed forever analyses how generative AI permanently alters startup economics, consulting industry dynamics, and the skills required to build technology businesses. Making innovation ‘free’ in Fintech proposes a staged deployment model where banks pay fintechs during trials and deduct those payments from the final contract. Navigating the Tech Industry’s Path to Net-Zero examines how green hydrogen and Guarantees of Origin can help the tech industry balance AI-driven energy demand with decarbonisation targets. What AI now means for banking leadership is an executive briefing on AI maturity for bank CxO teams. It introduces the nine-stage AI maturity model and five dimensions of AI impact. Produced through the Business AI Alliance. The AI Maturity Roadmap: navigating the nine stages of financial evolution is a structured guide expanding the nine-stage model into three phases — foundational, integration, and transformational — with hidden risks and an executive action plan. Produced through the Business AI Alliance. Scotland needs a why before another ecosystem plan argues that Scotland’s tech ecosystem lacks aligned objectives and proposes a co-authored Why Charter with ranked priorities, explicit non-goals, and a public scoreboard. Produced through Building Scotland. Building green AI compute in Scotland makes the case for green AI compute as national economic infrastructure, leveraging Scotland’s renewable energy surplus and natural cooling conditions to attract AI companies and talent. Co-authored with Joel Cohen through Building Scotland. Scotland in the AI age is a draft policy whitepaper arguing that Scotland must act across five strategic foundations — compute, models, data, skills, and market creation — to become an AI producer rather than a consumer. Produced through Building Scotland. The £230-per-head paradox analyses why Scotland spends £230 per person per year on innovation — comparable to Estonia — but produces fewer scaled outcomes. Identifies six structural reasons and proposes an Ecosystem Balance Sheet for tracking assets and liabilities. Produced through Building Scotland. Scotland needs a 20-year plan argues that ecosystem building takes longer than a political cycle and proposes a 20-year delivery framework with an Ecosystem P&L, rolling three-year plans, and six commitments for cross-party economic alignment. Produced through Building Scotland. A national capability roadmap translates the Building Scotland conversation themes into six executable pillars — from procurement hacks and Green AI Compute to 90-day execution sprints and the Estonian Resolution Trigger for zombie companies. Each pillar includes a 90-day sprint definition. Produced through Building Scotland. Scaling Scotland: the Scale-Up Panel report summarises the Scottish Scale-Up Panel’s report on building Scotland’s scale-up engine — four pillars, 15 recommendations, and a target of 10 unicorns and 50+ major scale-ups by 2040. Based on 75+ founder, investor, and advisor interviews.

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How to use it

Each paper page links to the full piece and summarises the central argument and the knowledge areas it draws on. Papers are the most citeable content in this wiki — they are the most complete and most argued.