Cisco is all set to build one of the world’s largest AI research centers with the renowned University College London (UCL). Sources reveal that the $100 million investment by the tech giant is aimed at innovation in big data, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles.
Incidentally, this isn’t Cisco and UK’s first stint at digital revolution, in the last decade, the American tech firm has committed over £1.1bn in digital innovation projects through the British Innovation Gateway initiative. Cisco’s current investment will apparently run alongside the government’s industrial strategy that plans to add a stupendous £230 billion to the UK economy by 2030.
Upon completion, the center will host more than 200 academics and researchers and nurture new talent in AI innovation, given that it plans to expand its expertise to different industries.
The UK has now become a hub for the largest and most innovative tech companies in Europe. According to digital secretary Jeremy Wright , Cisco’s business with the UK highlights how the country excels in research, technology, and regulatory environment to host innovations that will bring major changes in the lives of the nation’s populace.
Sources imply that the scheme was announced at Downing Street and PM Theresa May defined the same as a vote of confidence in the government’s industrial strategy. Based on industry figures, London offers a strong pipeline of innovation by hosting twice the number of AI companies as compared to Paris and Berlin combined.
Chuck Robbins, Cisco’s chairman and chief executive was quoted saying that UK’s AI expertise and commitment to offering future innovators the right digital skills will ensure that the nation is well suited to capture opportunities ahead.
UCL Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, has also stated how grateful the institution is to renew the partnership with Cisco and join hands to upskill the country’s expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence. The university is particularly looking forward to opening the new AI center and position UK as an industry leader in computer science, he affirms.