A £100 million artificial intelligence (AI) programme has been launched to boost the use of the technology in sectors including construction.
It comes from Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency. The £100 million BridgeAI programme will look to drive growth and competitiveness in the UK economy through the adoption of AI and machine learning (ML).
The programme will focus on businesses in sectors with high growth potential such as agriculture, construction, transportation, and creative industries, to help them enhance productivity and efficiency through AI. These four sectors have been identified as industries which showed high potential for transformation, alongside currently low AI adoption rates.
BridgeAI will be delivered in collaboration with a network of strategic delivery partners which share Innovate UK’s commitment to increasing the adoption and responsible implementation of AI. Key partners include Digital Catapult, Hartree Centre (STFC) – both part of the Innovate UK system – and the Alan Turing Institute.
An upcoming ‘Feasibility Studies for AI Solutions’ competition, which forms part of the programme, will invest up to £5 million in short-term (4-6 month) AI innovation projects, is also set to launch.
The competition is targeted at UK registered micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture, construction, transportation, and creative industries. Awards will be granted to applications that demonstrate how they can address business challenges and opportunities to drive an increase in productivity using AI, in collaboration with an AI developer or academic organisation. Successful grant applicants can receive up to £50,000 and applications close on 25 May 2023.
Will Drury, executive director, digital and technology at Innovate UK, commented, “The BridgeAI programme marks a significant investment in UK business. We aim to unlock the untapped potential of AI and drive greater productivity and efficiency across key sectors. By nurturing AI innovation at the grass roots level, we’re confident that this programme will enable thousands of businesses to add even greater value to the UK economy and compete more effectively on the global stage.”
Tabitha Goldstaub, chair of the AI Council, added, “As we see large companies reap the rewards of adopting AI. It’s even more important to ensure that lower AI maturity UK sectors get the support they need to benefit from the economic and social benefits this technology brings. By building innovation networks to stimulate both the demand and supply side, I’m excited to see the potential BridgeAI has to turbo charge those industries that are often left behind.”
