Robotics and AI for safer work: apply for residential and funding

18 May 2018 01:48 PM

Individuals from a business can attend a 5-day innovation lab to collaborate on ideas and get a share of £15 million via the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £15 million for businesses and researchers to collaborate on robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) systems that support safer work for people.

The aim is to develop technologies and systems that take people out of the inspection, maintenance and repair of infrastructure in extreme environments and make unmanned operations the standard approach.

The competition will do this by bringing industry and research together to work collaboratively, come up with ideas for research and innovation projects and apply for funding.

It is part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund for robots for a safer world – a £93 million investment by government to develop robotics and AI solutions in areas such as off-shore energy, nuclear energy, mining and space.

Find out more about the robots for a safer world challenge.

Competition run in 2 stages

This competition is being run in 2 stages.

In the first, we are inviting individuals to apply on behalf of their business to attend a 5-day residential innovation lab in September 2018.

The innovation lab will allow delegates to work in teams to generate innovative and commercially-viable ideas. It will use creative thinking techniques and activities to help evolve a common language and thinking and enable the sharing of understanding and expertise.

We are particularly interested in individuals that can contribute constructively and enthusiastically in the following areas:

By the end of the lab with your team you will have developed a joint proposal for a research and innovation project.

Proposal development

In the second stage of the competition, teams that attended the innovation lab will have the opportunity to apply for a share of up to £15 million grant funding for their project.

Businesses will have 3 weeks to work with their partners to further develop, finalise and submit their proposals. Final proposals must:

Only those who attend the residential innovation lab and meet the assessment criteria will be eligible to submit a proposal for funding.

Competition information

Find out more about the competition and apply.