The University of Liverpool and Imperial College London have been chosen to lead a new £12 million research hub, named AI for Chemistry Hub or AIChemy. This initiative is funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and various consortium partners. AIChemy’s goal is to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of chemistry and expedite its integration into relevant applications.
This collaborative effort involves key academic researchers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders. The hub aims to foster a collaborative community, provide training opportunities, and pioneer innovative methodologies at the intersection of AI and chemistry. The initiative is positioned to establish the United Kingdom as a global leader in Digital Chemistry.
The potential of AI, encompassing machine learning, automation, and robotics, is recognized for its ability to accelerate chemical discoveries. These advancements are expected to address significant societal challenges. To achieve this, coordinated efforts from leaders in both AI and chemistry are necessary.
AIChemy intends to empower the chemical sciences community to leverage the AI revolution. This is geared towards addressing global challenges such as achieving net-zero emissions and enhancing global health. The consortium is co-led by Professor Andy Cooper from the University of Liverpool and Professor Kim Jelfs from Imperial College London. Their leadership marks the establishment of the UK’s first academic-industrial institute dedicated to fostering collaboration between AI and chemistry researchers.
The consortium includes internationally recognized researchers from nine academic institutions: Imperial College London, the University of Liverpool, Queen’s University Belfast, UCL, and the Universities of Cambridge, Manchester, Oxford, Southampton, and Strathclyde. It also involves over 15 industry partners. The hub will utilize world-class facilities and research institutes, including DigiFAB and I-X at Imperial College London and the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) at Liverpool.
Photo credit: Thomas Angus, Imperial College London
