An AI Accelerator from the University of Edinburgh is accepting fresh applications from data-driven AI scale-ups to secure one of twelve places.
The accelerator, financed by the Scottish Funding Council through the Data Driven Innovation (DDI) programme, will be open to companies from across UK and Europe. It aims to help the small firms grow to compete on a global scale in a short time.
In addition, it is looking for disruptive scale-ups that apply AI and have high-growth potential.
The deadline for applications is August 8th 2021, with the programme running for six months from 22 September to 18 March 2022.
With companies able to participate both digitally and in-person, the accelerator is being delivered by Edinburgh Innovations and the Bayes Centre, the university’s innovation hub for data science and artificial intelligence, on behalf of all the DDI hubs. The AI Accelerator is also supported by Edinburgh-based strategic design consultancy Nile.
Enterprise and Innovation Programme Lead at Edinburgh Innovations Charlotte Waugh said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this fantastic opportunity to global data driven AI scale-ups, and to be partnering once again with Scale Space and Nile to build on the success of previous AI Accelerator programmes.
“Our USP is providing entrepreneurs with support on commercial skills at the same time as enabling them to tap into the University of Edinburgh’s world leading academic knowledge, data sets, talent and supercomputing facilities.
“The Bayes Centre, supported by Edinburgh Innovations, is at the heart of delivering this unique cross-hub collaboration ensuring cutting edge AI tech is at the heart of these market led, real world solutions and providing specialist input, connections and investor networks that scale businesses quickly and successfully.”
Companies on the current programme include BioLiberty, designers of an AI-powered robotic glove that strengthens the user’s grip, Neeuro, which utilises Brain-Computer Interface technology to help ADHD children improve their attention span, and Reath, which enables companies to find compliant and scalable solutions for reusing single use items that have been sent to landfill.
Jim Ashe, Director of Innovation, Bayes Centre, College of Science and Engineering, said: “The AI Accelerator provides an opportunity for data driven AI start-ups to grow and scale their businesses, in a dynamic environment – enabling connections with investors, mentors and their peers. The cohort will have access to the invaluable resources that the Bayes Centre provides.”
A similar accelerator is currently being run by Edinburgh University, the Post Covid AI Accelerator Cohort. This currently sees 15 companies looking to us AI and data projects to address global challenges, especially around health and climate change.
In addition, a similar programme, the Data-Driven Entrepreneurship Venture Builder Incubator, chose its first 27 data-driven projects back in April. This looked to take viable projects and help them take their first steps to turn into businesses.
Source: DIGIT