AI Skills Enhancement
In February 2019 the UK Government announced an initiative to train the next generation of artificial intelligence talent at UK universities with a new industry-funded Masters programme and 16 dedicated Centres at 14 universities with 300 partners across the country to train the next generation of AI PhDs. With figures showing that venture capital investments into the UK AI sector had increased 17% over the previous year (more than the whole of Europe combined), prestigious Alan Turing Institute AI research fellowships were created to allow the UK to attract and retain the very best global talent. Project partners are investing £78 million in cash or in-kind contributions and partner universities are committing a further £23 million, resulting in an overall investment of more than £200 million.
Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe)
The Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) initiative offers university researchers with commercially promising ideas up to £35,000 to get out of the lab to validate their ideas in the marketplace. This three-month programme includes a salary and travel budget for the Early Career Researcher. It starts with a three-day bootcamp to become familiar with a business model canvas, think about a value proposition, and propose a budget and action plan for market validation discovery. The Researcher has a goal of holding 100 conversations around the world during their three month programme and then reporting on findings at the end of their ICURe journey. With a developed understanding of what the marketplace needs, options can be considered which might include further research, the launch of a university spinout company or a licensing deal.
Science Industry Partnership (SIP)
The Science Industry Partnership (SIP) is a membership-based alliance of employers who have taken ownership of the skills needed to generate innovation and growth and increase productivity in the science-based sector of the UK economy. Run by Cogent Skills (the UK’s strategic body for skills in the science industries), SIP services include placements, apprenticeships and consultancy courses. SIP has three strategic objectives: to grow a pipeline of skilled people to build a globally-competitive science-based industry in the UK; to support development of workforce skills needed to adopt new technologies and innovations; and to promote STEM careers and improve the value and understanding of scientific knowledge and skills to attract the requisite supply of home-grown talent.
Topol Programme for Digital Fellowships in Healthcare
Delivered in 2019, The Topol Review is a report led by cardiologist, geneticist, and digital medicine researcher Dr Eric Topol, the Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. The Review outlined recommendations to ensure the NHS is the world leader in using digital technologies to benefit patients. This will involve implementing technologies such as genomics, digital medicine, AI and robotics at a faster pace and on a greater scale than anywhere else in the world. The Topol Programme for Digital Fellowships in Healthcare supports digital fellowships that will enable clinical staff (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, dentists, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, etc.) to pursue training in informatics and digital health to develop specialist digital skills and to help shape and accelerate the NHS digital revolution. VIDEO: The Topol Review – Preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future