Call for applicants for AI Accelerator
An initiative that helps innovative artificial intelligence (Ai)focused start-ups tackling societal challenges to maximise their full commercial potential has opened for new applicants today.
The AI Accelerator – delivered by relevant arms of the University of Edinburgh – is now seeking applications, from Scotland, the UK and beyond, from disruptive firms with strong growth aspirations. The next intake will run for six months from midseptember, and participants secure a package of support aimed at helping their businesses become “world-leading”, say organisers.
The 12 cohort companies that have just completed the AI Accelerator were found to have raised a combined £4.3 million through equity investments and grant funding awards while on the programme, creating high-value jobs in the process.
The programme will be delivered both digitally and in person by the Bayes Centre, the University of Edinburgh’s Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, as part of the Bayes Centre DDE Innovation, and Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service.
It is led by the Data-driven Innovation (DDI) Programme of the Edinburgh and Southeast
Scotland City Region Deal and delivered on behalf of all DDI Hubs, and participants will also benefit from collaboration and business profiling opportunities.
The programme, partnered by global strategic design consultancy Nilehq and supported by Huawei UK, is open to applications “from scalable incorporated companies with high-growth potential”. The remit for relevant businesses is that they must all use AI for wider societal benefit to tackle
core areas such as health and wellbeing, social care, and environmental stewardship.
The AI Accelerator added that it is “highly” focused on investment, giving participating companies a platform to develop an investment strategy and meet potential investors. “Along with some generous financial support, newly accepted cohorts will also be given the opportunity to scale their business through a series of workshops with trainers and mentors covering a range of commercialisation issues from product pricing to leadership,” it also said.
Thepreviousprogrammewas delivered in partnership with Scale Space, a new community for innovative businesses lookingtoscale.participantsincluded Scotland-based businesses such as Carcinotech, a cancer research company that manufactures 3D printed tumours using patient-derived cancer stem cells, primary cells, and established cell lines; and Chara.ai,developersofascreenplay platformenablingfilm-makers to find compelling untold stories and giving a voice to more diverse writers.
Charlotte Waugh, enterprise and innovation programme lead at Edinburgh Innovations, said: “We’re delighted to invite applications for the next AI Accelerator, a highly successful programme that is helping maximise the commercial potential of innovative start-up companies.”