Page 30 - Imperial College - Science for Humanity

Imperial Futures AI at Imperial

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are
ushering in a transformative era, offering
unparalleled potential to reshape industries and
society. Imperial has the combined power of over
1,000 researchers across all our faculties and
disciplines working to accelerate the safe and
productive development and deployment of AI.

Imperial’s Data Science Institute provides
foundational expertise in data science and
Convergence science of unprecedented scale engineering. Our new digital foundry I-X is
for unprecedented 21st century challenges driving transformations in AI, data science and
digital technologies to address interdisciplinary
Four new Schools of Convergence Science challenges and support novel industrial
collaborations, and is part of the Schmidt Futures
Fellowship programme supporting the next
generation of leaders in AI.
Our goal: To create a new paradigm for scientific → Human and artificial intelligence;
exploration where the integration of disciplines, → Health, MedTech and robotics; Imperial is leading the development of the
convening of cross-sectoral partnerships and → Climate, energy and sustainability; and next generation of AI skills through our two
harnessing of new models of research stimulate → Space, security and telecommunications. Centres for Doctoral Training (AI for Health;
innovation and lead to scientific progress. and AI for Digital Healthcare) and half the
These Schools of Convergence Science will Directors of Science and Innovation at the UK’s
Now: Imperial’s multidisciplinary Centres and Networks provide a new portal for external partners, supporters national institute for data science and AI, the
of Excellence galvanise a critical mass of researchers and stakeholders, including more effective routes “Imperial Futures will Alan Turing Institute, will be from Imperial.
across disciplines to answer a challenge. Our Global to Imperial’s research, education and innovation.
Challenge Institutes have driven multidisciplinary They will amplify Imperial’s convening power, Our AI ecosystem is strengthened by research
approaches, engaged our external partners and advisory and thought leadership – boosting our enable breakthroughs collaborations with industry leaders such as GSK,
strengthened the impact of our research. Our newest capacity to serve as a trusted partner for local Thomson Reuters and Amazon Web Services
Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance – a joint and national governments, industry, third sector by convergence and and supports AI-based startups across a range of
initiative between Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering organisations and civil society. They will provide sectors including healthcare and drug discovery,
and Business School – will focus on productivity within a sandpit for brainstorming, co-creation and hosting energy systems, autonomous vehicles, financial
the UK’s existing and emerging high-value industries large interdisciplinary research programmes. systems approaches services and education technologies.
across engineering, life sciences, and data science. They will adapt, develop and trial new models
of scientific exploration. – imagining and Additionally, our Science Policy Fellowship
Imperial has a long history of pioneering interdisciplinary scheme brings policy makers working on AI across
research in new fields. Our Department for Biomedical The new Schools will provide our PhD students government together with the deep technical and
Engineering in the Sir Michael Uren Hub at our with unparalleled opportunities for convergence creating the kind of regulatory expertise of our researchers.
White City Campus integrates engineering and science to complement the support they receive in
biomedical sciences with clinical practice to improve their host departments. And they will act as a useful world that future
human health. The Dyson School of Design Engineering lens through which to horizon-scan the educational
fuses design thinking and engineering knowledge and landscape for new opportunities for future skills
practice within a culture of innovation to help solve and training needs. global citizens need:
global problems with an emphasis on sustainability,
entrepreneurship and societal impact. Building deep collaborations with internal and sustainable, resilient,
external stakeholders, each new School will work
Next: Over the next two years, Imperial will launch closely with industry and other knowledge partners,
four cross-cutting Schools of Convergence and with university and private sector accelerators, healthy, equitable.”
Science that build on our disciplinary strengths to build high-velocity, high-impact pathways from
and interdisciplinary culture to create deeply the lab to the real world.
integrated research communities at unprecedented Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost
scale to deliver societal impact in key areas: (Research and Enterprise)

28 29