Review to shape next phase of The Alan Turing Institute
Above: Office in The Alan Turing Institute.
Courtesy The Alan Turing Institute
The review also sets out recommendations to build on the Turing’s success and to guide its next phase.
The quinquennial review was conducted by a panel of independent experts and has provided advice to both the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the institute.
The review has provided advice on how to strengthen successful delivery of its strategy and help shape its future direction in a rapidly changing artificial intelligence (AI) landscape.
It outlines the value of the institute’s activities and outputs during the first five years of its operation, and assesses its future strategy to continue providing value as a national institute.
Delivering the Turing’s strategy
A key finding from the review was the importance of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) providing sustained core funding to the institute, at a level that will enable the delivery of its recent strategy.
The review also lays out recommendations for how it should operate as the UK’s national institute for data science and AI to maximise benefits back to the UK.
It outlines a series of conditions and recommendations relating to governance and operational effectiveness.
Addressing national and international challenges
A £100 million investment was recently announced by the Chancellor.
The investment will help to build on the work of the Turing to-date and bring the AI community together to address national and international challenges in the areas of:
- health
- environment and sustainability
- defence and national security
The challenge-led approach is backed by a commitment to fundamental AI and data science research and a programme of activity to ensure the UK has a fair digital society where data science and AI improves productivity and economic growth.
The institute’s strategy also sets out how it will build the nation’s AI and data science skills and help to drive an informed public conversation.
The investment will be delivered by UKRI’s EPSRC.
Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director for Cross-Council Programmes at EPSRC, said: "The review recognises the excellent work done by the Turing since its inception and identifies the clear value that a national institute provides within the UK’s AI research and innovation ecosystem.
"The review will help to shape the institute’s next phase, which will see it play an important role in contributing to the government’s priorities and utilising AI and data science to drive forward research, economic and societal impacts.
"The long-term core funding recently announced will allow the institute to deliver its refreshed strategy (Turing 2.0) working across the national AI ecosystem.
"We are working with the Turing to ensure recommendations made by the review are implemented, to maximise the benefits of this investment.
Jean Innes, CEO, The Alan Turing Institute, said: "I’d like to thank the QQR panel for their thorough review and thoughtful recommendations and advice for the next phase of the Institute, including their recommendation for a further five years of funding.
"This provides a foundation for longer term planning as we chart a path to delivering maximum impact.
"We greatly look forward to working with partners to harness the collective talent of the community and push the boundaries of data science and AI for the public good."
Click here to view the report: Quinquennial review of The Alan Turing Institute.
