In an exciting development, artificial intelligence projects spanning the realms of fashion, farming, and firefighting are set to receive a substantial £37 million boost in funding. This forward-looking initiative has been unveiled just weeks before the highly anticipated UK AI Safety Summit and underscores the positive role AI can play in diverse industries.
Michelle Donelan, the Science and Technology Secretary, is urging research teams and businesses of all sizes in high-growth sectors, ranging from transport to agriculture and construction to creative industries, to vie for a piece of the £32 million funding pie.
This financial injection aims to propel AI initiatives forward in a secure and responsible manner, thereby enhancing the broader sector, supporting the workforce, and contributing to the Prime Minister’s vision of economic growth.
An additional £5 million has been earmarked for feasibility studies geared toward encouraging innovation within 100 small firms. The government’s objective is to harness the positive impacts of AI on productivity and growth.
This funding will support the deployment of AI tools across various economic sectors, from optimizing power supplies to electric vehicle charging points and minimizing railway delays to reducing waste in the construction industry and monitoring the health of dairy cattle.
Innovative Projects in the Spotlight
The Technology Secretary has unveiled this latest support while visiting Kapdaa, a sustainable fashion brand located in Kingston Upon Thames. Kapdaa’s AI4Fibres project, which focuses on textile and fiber recycling, is among the winners of the £5 million fund.
This project aims to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint and curb the disposal of approximately 921,000 tonnes of textiles in UK household waste each year.
By effectively sorting and processing textile waste by material, Kapdaa’s technology removes zips and buttons, making the recycling process more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Other noteworthy projects benefiting from this funding include TradeWork, which is pioneering AI-assisted project management systems to streamline work scheduling, resourcing, budgeting, and completion, thereby accelerating and cost-cutting in housebuilding. DeepPlanet is engaged in using satellite imagery to detect and predict diseases in wine grape plants, preventing waste in the agricultural industry.
AI for Environmental and Safety Advancements
On the horizon, DigiLab in Exeter is assisting farmers in identifying and verifying carbon capture, while Better Environment and Transport explores AI solutions to help UK Fire and Rescue services transition to net-zero, reducing fuel expenses and pollution.
Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, underlines the potential of AI: “When it is deployed safely and responsibly, AI can and will transform what is possible in the world of work, unlocking gains in productivity and efficiency that could never have been imagined before.”
Nishant Parekh, co-founder of Kapdaa, expresses the vision behind their project, stating, “Our aim is to make the UK self-sufficient for its own textile waste. We are creating a one-of-a-kind AI system completely conceptualized and built in the UK, providing a unique way to reduce landfill. Eventually, it will create an entirely new sector and inspire young generations to support sustainability.”
Application Deadline and Upcoming AI Safety Summit
The £32 million competition is open for applications until November 8, just days after the UK hosts the world’s first major AI Safety Summit. The event will bring together world leaders, tech experts, researchers, and civil society groups to foster international cooperation on AI’s risks and opportunities while ensuring its safe and responsible development.
Funding for these AI projects is provided through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and administered by the Innovate UK BridgeAI program. The funds will be allocated to at least one micro-business, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), one large enterprise, and one academic institution or research and technology organization (RTO).
Dr. Kedar Pandya, Executive Director of Cross-Council Programs at UKRI, emphasizes the importance of AI in various industries and sectors, emphasizing that these feasibility projects will demonstrate AI’s broad applicability in the UK.
This funding boost follows several other AI-related investments by the UK government, including £2 million towards projects addressing hard-to-treat cancers and £13 million for AI innovation in healthcare. Additionally, the government announced £31 million to establish a UK and international research and innovation ecosystem for responsible and trustworthy AI.
About Kapdaa and Funding Source
Kapdaa is a multi-award-winning sustainable fashion brand based in London, known for upcycling fabric offcuts into limited edition, eco-friendly accessories and stationery. To date, they claim to have saved over 10,000 meters of textiles from going to landfill.
The £37 million funding is part of the UKRI Technology Missions Fund, outlined in the Science and Technology Framework, and is executed by the Innovate UK BridgeAI program, designed to support AI innovation in high-growth industries. The competition, offering £32 million in funding, will assist approximately 80 businesses and 20 consortia.
The £5 million feasibility fund supports UK registered micro, small, or medium-sized businesses in collaboration with academic institutions and will aid 100 projects with up to £50,000 each, lasting between four and six months.
About UKRI Technology Missions Fund and Innovate UK BridgeAI
The UKRI Technology Missions Fund aims to leverage the UK’s leadership in transformative technologies to solve specific problems and maintain a leading position. Overall, UKRI is investing £250 million in Technology Missions from 2023 to 2025 and beyond. Innovate UK BridgeAI, an Innovate UK-funded program, fosters AI adoption among UK businesses in high-growth sectors, focusing on ethics, transparency, and data privacy to ensure responsible AI innovation.
This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to fostering AI innovations, driving progress across various sectors, and ensuring the responsible and safe development of AI technologies.