Aiming to ensure a leadership position for the U.K. in artificial intelligence (AI), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a 200 million pound (230 million euro) initiative to create 1,000 new doctoral students specializing in AI.
The program aims to drive the utilization of AI technology for improving healthcare, addressing climate change, and creating new commercial opportunities, according to the organization. UKRI cited the use of AI for analyzing medical images and information as an example of how AI can enable tasks to be completely quickly and how it can glean useful insights from large quantities of information.
The doctoral students will be trained at 16 new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) at 14 U.K. universities in collaboration with 300 partners, including AstraZeneca, Google, Rolls-Royce, and National Health System (NHS) trusts. UKRI is investing 100 million pounds (115 million euros), while project partners are providing 78 million pounds (89.7 million euros) in cash or in-kind contributions. Partner universities are committing a further 23 million pounds (26.5 million euros), resulting in an overall investment of more than 200 million pounds, according to the organization.
