BridgeAI: Accelerating AI deployment

Overview

Innovate UK (UK Research and Innovation) invites businesses, AI innovators, and ecosystem partners to join BridgeAI: Accelerating AI deployment - the competition launch and collaboration event for the next phase of the BridgeAI programme. 

The event is designed to support prospective applicants understand the programme and how it will be delivered and to connect with potential collaborators and begin forming strong, well-balanced consortia. It will bring together organisations across the UK’s Industrial Strategy priority sectors seeking to adopt AI with AI developers, solution providers and innovation partners offering the capabilities and expertise needed to support trusted, real-world AI deployment.

Whether you represent an organisation seeking to adopt AI, an AI developer with an existing solution or capability, or an organisation contributing specialist expertise, the event will provide a practical opportunity to ask questions, share challenges and capabilities, connect with prospective partners and begin turning industry needs into deployable AI solutions. Participants will also be able to continue developing their knowledge and collaborations after the event through online partner-led workshops and the BridgeAI B2Match networking platform. 

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About the event

What to expect?

The event will combine practical information about the BridgeAI programme and competition with opportunities to ask questions, meet potential collaborators and begin developing consortia ahead of the Phase 1 competition. 

The programme will include:

• Dedicated semi-structured and informal opportunities to meet potential consortium partners from industry, the AI community and the wider innovation ecosystem  
• Practical information about the Phase 1 competition, including its scope, eligibility requirements and what will be expected from applicants 
• An introduction to the next phase of BridgeAI, including the programme’s objectives, opportunities, delivery approach and support available 
• A panel discussion and audience Q&A with BridgeAI delivery partners, highlighting the expertise, resources and support available throughout the programme 
• Information about forthcoming online partner-led workshops, where participants can explore relevant topics and programme support in greater depth 
• Access to the BridgeAI B2Match platform to find partners and continue conversations before and after the event 

Who should attend?

This event is relevant to organisations interested in developing, adopting, deploying or supporting AI solutions who are considering participation in the BridgeAI competition or able to contribute to a prospective consortium, including: 

• Medium or large UK-registered businesses and public sector organisations exploring how AI could address their operational or strategic challenges and interested in collaborating on AI deployment in business setting 
• UK-registered AI technology developer SMEs with an existing AI or ML solution at TRL 5-6 who are looking to respond to industry challenges moving beyond pilots into trusted, real-world deployment 
• Organisations interested in joining or forming collaborative consortia  
• Innovation specialists, regulators, investors, sector bodies and organisations supporting commercialisation   
• Organisations supporting responsible AI adoption and commercialisation 

Participants do not need to arrive with an established consortium or fully developed project idea. The event is designed to help attendees understand the opportunity, test and develop ideas, identify complementary expertise and make relevant connections. 

Why attend?

By taking part, attendees will: 

• Understand the next phase of BridgeAI, its programme objectives, consortium requirements and how to engage 
• Learn about the Phase 1 competition, including its scope, eligibility requirements and what will be expected from applicants 
• Hear from BridgeAI delivery team and partners about the expertise and support available to help organisations deploy AI solutions 
• Identify the combination of industry, technology and specialist expertise needed to develop a strong collaborative application 
• Meet potential partners and begin forming consortia ahead of the Phase 1 competition 
• Begin developing the relationships and ideas needed for a strong collaborative application 
• Learn about upcoming online sessions and support available through BridgeAI’s delivery partners 
• Continue conversations and develop partnerships before and after the event through the BridgeAI B2Match networking platform. 

How can I attend?

Please note that the in-person event is an expression of interest and does not guarantee a place. With limited space available, we will review the expressions of interest on an ongoing basis and aim to create an appropriate mix of prospective AI adopters, AI developers, solution providers and organisations offering relevant consortium expertise.  

In-person places will be prioritised for attendees who can actively contribute a relevant challenge, AI solution, capability or specialist expertise to discussions and consortium-building activities. 

B2Match collaboration platform 

All registrants, regardless of the outcome of the expression of interest to the in-person event, are invited to join the BridgeAI B2Match platform, where they can identify and connect with potential partners, and share their challenges and capabilities. The platform will also host a partial recording of the talks taking place during the in-person event. 

The B2match platform will be accessible for the entire period of the competition, and interested collaborators will be able to create an account at any point during this period.  

Continue the conversation after the event

The launch event will be followed by a series of online workshops delivered by BridgeAI programme partners, providing opportunities to explore relevant topics and available support in greater depth while continuing to develop connections with prospective collaborators. Further information about workshop themes, dates and registration will be shared with registered attendees and through the BridgeAI website and B2Match platform. 

All registrants will be invited to join the BridgeAI B2Match platform to showcase their challenges, solutions, services and expertise; identify potential partners; arrange meetings; and develop collaborations before and after the event. Participants are encouraged to complete their profiles and include a clear collaboration pitch explaining what they can offer and who they would like to meet. 

Event details

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