THE UNIVERSITY of Reading (UoR) is backing an initiative to establish Thames Valley as the UK’s leading region for artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, March 27, the Thames Valley AI (TVAI) hub launched, bringing together academics and industry partners to collaborate and encourage responsible use of the technology.
It saw networking between academics, stakeholders, industry leaders, enthusiasts, and students, as well as presentations from a number of speakers, including the University of Reading’s Vice-Chancellor, Robert Van de Noort.
The TVAI steering group includes Dr Dominic Lees, an expert in AI for the screen industries, along with colleagues from the University of Reading and representatives from companies including Nvidia and CV Library.
The TVAI makes the case that Thames Valley as a region offers a number of advantages which make it well-placed as a centre for AI development.
Among them are its strategic location– direct links to London, Heathrow, and major European markets, and providing global connectivity without London’s premium costs.
It also argues its academic institutions, such as the University of Reading and the University of Oxford, provide cutting-edge AI research and a pipeline of talented graduates.
It describes a business ecosystem featuring global giants such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle and Vodafone, as well as innovative start ups, and a talent pool with over 56,000 tech professionals in Berkshire alone.
Dr Mona Ashok, Associate Professor of Digital Transformation at Henley Business School and TVAI co-director.
“Our mission is to empower businesses and individuals through education, networking and access to cutting-edge research.
“We’re focused on promoting ethical AI practices while positioning the Thames Valley as a global leader in AI innovation.
“Our hope is that by connecting academic research with real-world applications, we can help local businesses of all sizes benefit from this transformative technology.”
