The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has announced a £100 million investment in The Alan Turing Institute, a key milestone in the delivery of the Institute’s new strategy which sets out how it will use data science and AI to tackle some of the biggest issues facing society.
The Turing’s work is centred around three grand challenges focusing on environment and sustainability, health and defence and national security, backed by a continued commitment to fundamental AI and data science research.
The challenge-led approach will also see the Institute carry out a programme of activity to ensure the UK has a fair and equitable digital society where data science and AI improves productivity and economic growth.
The five-year investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will allow the Turing to build on its work to-date and follow through on goals outlined in its strategy.
This includes pursuing scientific discoveries which can tackle major societal challenges, from the climate and biodiversity crisis to improving the nation’s health and wellbeing, to ensuring the security of the UK and our allies as well as promoting a fair and equitable digital society.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said: “The Alan Turing Institute is at the forefront of our national AI capability and has helped to cement the UK’s position as a leader in this transformative technology.
“This new investment will ensure that the Turing can continue to explore the frontiers of AI, working across the research and innovation system to deliver the UK’s AI Strategy.”
The Turing will also build the nation’s data science and AI skills and help to drive an informed public conversation where everyone can debate the benefits and risks of these technologies.
Dr Jean Innes, Chief Executive of The Alan Turing Institute, said: “Our purpose is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence to change the world for the better and this £100 million investment will allow us to chart a new path over the next five years, working with our partners across the ecosystem to uncover solutions to society’s greatest challenges.”
Alongside this new investment, the Institute recently announced four new Directors of Science and Innovation tasked with leading grand challenges in environment and sustainability, health, defence and national security and our fundamental AI and data science research.
