UK-Italy Forge Collaborative AI Future with New Visiting Researcher Programme
London, UK – February 28, 2025, 10:43 GMT – In a landmark initiative designed to bolster international collaboration in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, the UK and Italy have announced the launch of the “UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme.” This program, officially unveiled today, aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and knowledge between leading AI researchers from both nations, ultimately fostering the creation of ethical, secure, and beneficial AI technologies.
The program, funded jointly by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Italy’s Ministry of University and Research (MUR), will provide grants and logistical support for researchers to conduct extended visits to partner institutions in the respective countries. The initial funding commitment for the program is £10 million over the next three years, signifying the significant investment both governments are making in this crucial area.
Key Objectives and Scope:
The UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme is built upon several core objectives:
- Promoting Collaboration: Facilitating joint research projects between UK and Italian institutions in areas such as explainable AI, fairness and bias detection, data privacy and security, and AI safety.
- Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the dissemination of best practices and emerging research trends related to trustworthy AI.
- Capacity Building: Strengthening the AI research capabilities in both countries by providing researchers with access to cutting-edge facilities and expertise.
- Addressing Societal Challenges: Focusing on AI applications with the potential to address societal challenges, such as healthcare, climate change, and sustainable development, while adhering to ethical principles.
- Harmonizing Standards: Contributing to the development of international standards and guidelines for responsible AI development and deployment.
The program welcomes applications from researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, engineering, law, ethics, and social sciences. Projects with a focus on the following areas are particularly encouraged:
- Explainable AI (XAI): Developing methods for making AI decision-making processes more transparent and understandable.
- Fairness and Bias Mitigation: Identifying and mitigating biases in AI algorithms to ensure equitable outcomes.
- Privacy-Preserving AI: Creating AI systems that protect sensitive data while still providing valuable insights.
- Robustness and Security: Ensuring that AI systems are resilient to adversarial attacks and data breaches.
- AI Ethics and Governance: Exploring the ethical implications of AI and developing governance frameworks for responsible AI development and deployment.
Participating Institutions:
A network of leading universities and research institutions across the UK and Italy will participate in the program. Confirmed participating institutions include:
UK:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- The Alan Turing Institute (National Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence)
Italy:
- Politecnico di Milano
- University of Bologna
- University of Rome “La Sapienza”
- Scuola Normale Superiore
- Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
More institutions are expected to join the program in the coming months.
Quotes and Commentary:
Speaking at the program’s launch event in London, the UK’s Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Anya Sharma, stated: “This collaborative program represents a significant step forward in our efforts to develop and deploy trustworthy AI technologies. By bringing together the best minds from the UK and Italy, we can accelerate innovation and ensure that AI is used for the benefit of all of society. We believe that international cooperation is essential for addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI.”
Professor Elena Rossi, Italy’s Minister of University and Research, added: “Italy is committed to fostering a responsible and ethical approach to AI development. This partnership with the UK will allow us to share our expertise and learn from each other, ultimately strengthening our collective ability to create AI systems that are both innovative and trustworthy. We are confident that this program will lead to groundbreaking research and tangible benefits for both our nations.”
Professor David Chen, Director of the Alan Turing Institute, emphasized the importance of the program in the context of global AI development. “The UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme is a fantastic opportunity to build bridges between our research communities and tackle the crucial challenges of ensuring AI is safe, reliable, and equitable. By working together, we can shape the future of AI and ensure it serves humanity’s best interests.”
Application Process and Timeline:
The first call for applications will open on March 15, 2025, and close on May 31, 2025. Detailed information about the application process, eligibility criteria, and funding guidelines can be found on the websites of DSIT and MUR. Successful applicants are expected to begin their research visits in early 2026.
Implications and Future Prospects:
The launch of the UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme marks a significant milestone in international cooperation on AI. It is expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of trustworthy AI technologies, strengthen research capabilities in both countries, and foster a deeper understanding of the ethical and societal implications of AI. The program could also serve as a model for future collaborations between other nations committed to responsible AI development. Looking ahead, there is potential to expand the scope of the program to include other European countries and focus on specific application areas, such as AI for healthcare or AI for climate change. This initiative signals a strong commitment to ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a way that benefits all of humanity.
UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme
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