Applicants sought for Scottish University's AI accelerator

High growth potential, technology-driven scale-ups, from the UK, Europe and internationally are now being offered the opportunity to join the eighth cohort of the University of Edinburgh’s globally renowned AI Accelerator programme. 

Prior to the submission deadline of May 19, the University plans to hold an online information session for potential applicants on April 23, which will be followed by an in-person session on May 3.

Up to 16 companies, all of which place a strong focus on ‘AI for good’ to deliver societal benefits in key areas including health and wellbeing, social care and the climate challenge will then be selected for the programme which with will run from September until March 2025. 

The programme aims to help companies achieve global growth through discussions on investment strategy development and direct engagement with potential investors. Along with some generous financial support, newly accepted cohort companies will also be given the opportunity to scale their business through workshops covering a range of commercialisation issues from product pricing to leadership. 

Now celebrating its fifth year, the AI Accelerator has supported a range of world-leading companies to develop from start-ups to globally focused businesses, including climate monitoring solution provider, Space Intelligence; Inicio.AI, a technology-driven start-up which makes debt management processes more efficient and accessible for businesses.; and Edinburgh-based cancer research business Carcinotech, which raised over £4m in January to further develop its 3D-printed micro-tumour technology.

Since the inception of the AI Accelerator in 2018, these and other participant companies have gone on to secure over £67m through a combination of external investment and grant funding awards.

The 2024 programme will be once again delivered by the University of Edinburgh’s Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Bayes Centre and in partnership with Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. The programme is delivered on behalf of all the university’s Data-Driven Innovation Hubs.

More information online