Cisco and UCL announce new AI Centre to open in autumn

The support is aligned to the Government's Industrial Strategy, and the investment in the UK will support partnership with industry, government and academia to help accelerate digital opportunity for the UK.

Professor Michael Arthur, UCL President & Provost, said: It's wonderful to renew our partnership with Cisco and work together to upskill the UK in machine learning and artificial intelligence. I'm particularly looking forward to opening the new AI Centre in the coming months to position us as a sector leader in computer science."

Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The decision by Cisco to invest £100 million to support digital innovation across the UK is welcome news and is a vote of confidence in our Modern Industrial Strategy. 

"I particularly welcome the announcement of the new AI research centre in partnership with UCL. Research has shown that AI could add £232bn to the UK economy by 2030 and developments like this will help with our ambition to put the UK at the forefront of the AI and data revolution."

Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright said: "The UK has become the natural destination in Europe for the largest and most innovative tech companies to operate and invest. Cisco's strong commitment to the UK highlights we have the ambition, research excellence and regulatory environment for world-leading firms to develop the innovations that will change people's lives for the better."

Chuck Robbins, Chief Executive and Chairman, Cisco, said: "Industry is being reimagined on the internet, creating new markets and new playing fields for competition and collaboration, both as businesses and as nations.

"We believe in the opportunity for the UK. From its expertise in AI, to ensuring future innovators have the skills to succeed in the digital economy.

"The UK's digital and industrial strategies set out ways to ensure that no one is left behind. That's why we have continued to invest in initiatives to help accelerate digitisation and innovation across the UK, most recently through the launch of our Country Digital Acceleration partnership and today with an additional £100m investment."

The UK currently ranks fifth in the world for digital readiness, based on seven key factors that impact a nation's ability to embrace digital, including infrastructure, technology adoption, skills, basic human needs, business and government investment and start-up environment. With a proven link between digital readiness and GDP, digital can help improve everything from public services to national productivity.

Links

• UCL Computer Science
• UCL Engineering
• Media coverage: New Statesman, City AM

Image

• Credit: Gerd Altman, source: Pixabay

Source

• Cisco

Media contact

Kate Corry

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 6995

Email: k.corry [at] ucl.ac.uk