MATRIX, together with the Digital Catapult NI and the Department for the Economy, is holding a Artificial Intelligence workshop on the 10th January in Titanic Belfast.

We are inviting AI developers and adopters from all sectors to explore what Northern Ireland needs to do to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the UK Industrial Strategy.

The workshop will use the “Engage” process which involves real-time e-participation facilitated by Professor Jonathan Wallace, Dr Michaela Black and Brian Cleland from Ulster University.

The UK Government wants to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of the AI and data revolution. New measures to support Britain’s world-leading AI sector were therefore announced last month as part of the UK Industrial Strategy to boost growth and deliver a thriving, outward-looking digital economy that works for everyone.

UK Industrial Strategy measures include:

  • AI Sector Deal – Building on the UK Review of AI by Dame Wendy Hall and Jérôme Pesenti, Growing the Artificial Intelligence Industry in the UK, Goverment and the AI sector have agreed a Sector Deal deal to boost the UK’s global position as a leader in developing AI technologies and will anchor the UK as the go-to place for AI innovation and investment
  • Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund – £1.7bn funding available including £20m for AI to create Next Generation Services; £210m in ‘Data to early diagnostics and precision medicine challenge’; £33m Immersive tech – audience of the future
  • Skills – Investment of £45m to support additional PhD’s in AI and related disciplines, create a presitgious AI Fellowship Programme, an industry funded Masters programme and support to industry to train cross-discipline professionals to apply AI in their specialist areas
  • Coordination & Uptake – For the economy to realise the benefits of AI, the sector and govt will establish an AI Council for UK which will be supported by a Govt Office for AI which will work initially with six priority sectos: Cybersecurity; Life Sciences; Construction; Manufacturing; Energy; and, AgriTech. There will also be an expansion of Tech City UK to become Tech Nation and a new GovTech Fund;
  • Machine Learning Garage – a new programme to be launched in January 2018 by the Digital Catapult to provide low-cost access to to high-quality machine learning computation power for start-ups and support businesses of all sizes with expertise on cost-effective machine learning computation.
  • Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation – £9m investment ensure ethical, safe and innovative use of data, including AI
  • Strength in Place Fund – £115m to build on existing areas of excellence funding collaborative programmes proposed by universities, local employers, LEPs and their counterparts in the Devolved Administration i.e. Invest NI

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

Registration & Buffet Lunch: 12:00pm

Workshop: 12:30pm

Closing Remarks: 5pm

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