The Alan Turing Institute has entered the second phase of its multi-million collaboration which is looking to accelerate the translation of Turing data-centric engineering (DCE) research into real-world impact. 

Building on the strong foundations of the strategic partnership, which includes the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), phase two will have a particular focus on safety-critical domains – areas that require strict engineering practices and extensive testing, for example in the transport and energy sectors. 

It will also enable the development of data science and AI for safety standards, through increased engagement with potential users, across safety domains and with regulators. 

Commenting on the AMRC’s involvement in the project, Dr Jon Stammers, senior theme lead for Data, AI and Connectivity at the AMRC, said the strategic pillars of DCE 2.0 aligns with the on-going thought leadership and project work happening at the AMRC, which is focusing on data-centric manufacturing. 

He added: “We are particularly interested in how R&D works in data analytics and data science and how it’s being pulled through to being used across manufacturing. A key step in this process is ensuring the people involved and impacted by any data-centric change are involved from the start, and receive the right training and skills for success.

“A key theme for DCE 2.0 is digital manufacturing, which speaks volumes about the need for a clearer national vision on the impact data science and AI can have in the sector.”  

The new phase for DCE will be supported by a 10-year multi-million-pound investment from both the Alan Turing Institute and global safety charity, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, to support innovation, training, policy work and research in the field of big data. 

Jonathan Eyre, senior technical fellow for digital twins at the AMRC, said: “The modern ways of working are already being transformed to become data first, from initial concepts, through to operational decisions – to the point where ‘digital’ methodologies are simply best practice. 

“It’s happening across all domains, with many organisations exploring disruptive applications of AI as a step change to current processes, as well as digital twins that are synchronising the physical world and their digital representations. 

“This partnership is a key part of demonstrating and enabling cross-sectoral opportunities, alongside sharing best practices to be able to advance information management. By building in this knowledge, it helps to create future prosperity with the benefits we all want for society.”  

Professor Mark Girolami, Chief Scientist at The Alan Turing Institute, added: “We are extremely proud of the work that we’ve done with the foundation so far – and we’ve achieved a lot in just a few years. 

“Data science and AI has enormous potential to help us solve some of society’s most pressing problems. This partnership will help us to make great progress, particularly in tackling problems related to environment and sustainability and we’re delighted to continue to work closely together in the coming years.”

The partnership will play a crucial role in bringing together the best talent to contribute to significant upskilling, fostering knowledge sharing and promoting best practice across data science, AI and DCE. It will involve collaboration with partners, which include the University of Sheffield AMRC, Lloyd’s Register Group, MARI-UK, National Shipbuilding Office and the Advanced Nuclear Research Centre (ANRC). 

Using data science and AI to solve key societal issues is an important element of the Turing’s new strategy. This partnership will be a key component of the Turing’s grand challenge in environment and sustainability which aims to address the climate and biodiversity crisis and the need for greater sustainability. 

The partnership has already had enormous impact, contributing to the production of the world’s first 3D-printed steel bridge in Amsterdam, where DCE researchers applied a data-centric approach to test the 3D-printed stainless steel used to construct the bridge to ensure its safety, using statistical techniques in conjunction with materials science.

DCE researchers have also produced papers in over 400 scientific publications, delivering and supporting more than 100 projects, and securing several international agreements, from Finland to Australia.

As the second phase of the project now moves forward, Professor Adam Sobey, a professor in the maritime engineering group at the University of Southampton, has been appointed as the programme director for the data-centric engineering programme.  

The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.

The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing is considered to have laid the foundations for modern-day data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute’s purpose is to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better. Its goals are to advance world-class research and apply it to national and global challenges, build skills for the future by contributing to training people across sectors and career stages, and drive an informed public conversation by providing balanced and evidence-based views on data science and AI.