Northumbria receives prestigious data science and AI research award

Northumbria University has been named among 24 outstanding UK institutions to receive the first-ever Alan Turing Institute’s Network Development Award for research into data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

Each of the universities selected from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England demonstrated its own proven research excellence and a track record of translation in data science, AI, or a related field.

The work of Northumbria University in these fields will now be significantly enhanced through active involvement with The Alan Turing Institute - the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.

“Receiving this award is a fantastic achievement and a credit to all colleagues involved in the high-quality research at Northumbria University,” said Edmond Ho, Associate Professor in Computer and Information Sciences, at Northumbria University. “We look forward to collaborating with world-class researchers at The Alan Turing Institute and its partners to advance AI and data science research and apply it to real-world problems.”

As the national institute for data science and AI, the Turing Institute already has a well-established network of university partners. However, these awards enable the Institute to extend its reach. The group of successful universities will be awarded up to £25,000, to: 

• Establish or grow an engaged and diverse community working (at all career stages) in data science and AI research and innovation at the university, who are aware of and will engage with potential opportunities and initiatives available across the Turing network.

• Identify and establish links between Institute priority areas and areas of interest and expertise at the university. 

• Host activities and initiatives that are open to the wider data science and AI research and innovation community and/or local and regional communities, to form new links and collaborations. 

• Map the University’s expertise and strengths in each of the Institute’s priority areas and those considered of national strategic importance (in data science and AI) not yet covered by the Institute.

• Design plans for how the network will become sustainable for the future.

Adrian Smith, Director at The Alan Turing Institute, said: “The awards reflect the demand across a range of sectors to work with the Institute. Data science and AI doesn’t stand still, and so we look forward to working together with this network of universities; exploring new ways to grow the UK’s dynamic research and innovation landscape.”