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AI initiatives: get involved

25 Feb 2022

Your chance to give your feedback

The President and Vice-Chancellor has convened a pan-university working group, under the Institute of Data Science and AI (IDSAI), to develop major University initiatives in AI. It is chaired by Professor Sami Kaski, and supported by Digital Futures. The scope of activity spans basic AI methodology, social and ethical implications, business and public sector applications, translation into practice, and engaging with the local economy. There are currently three streams of activity:

  • Preparing to submit a competitive bid for a UKRI AI Centre of Excellence (AI CoE)
  • Establishing, within IDSAI, a Centre for AI Fundamentals
  • Developing a business case for a Turing Innovation Hub

The working group would welcome your input to any of these initiatives via our web form.

AI Centre of Excellence

We are expecting a UKRI call for proposals to establish large-scale AI CoEs. As a partner in the Turing, with over 1000 members in our data science and AI community we should aspire to become one. We do not know yet what form the call will take, but we need to ensure our efforts are coordinated. The working group is identifying areas of strength and gathering supporting evidence, but may have missed something. Let us know via the web form if you have ambitions to lead a bid or a theme within an integrated bid.

Centre for AI  Fundamentals

To increase the attractiveness of Manchester for AI researchers, and build critical mass, we are establishing, within IDSAI, a Centre that brings together colleagues from across the University who work on developing AI algorithms and methodologies, complementing the broader mission of IDSAI. Let us know via the web form if you would like to be part of this community.

Turing Innovation Hub

We have been working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, ID Manchester, the Turing Institute, and other stakeholders to develop a business case for a major investment in an Innovation Hub that will engage with the local economy to accelerate the translation of AI and Digital Trust technologies into practice. We are about to launch a major campaign to engage with businesses. Please use the web form to suggest companies we should target.