Ulster University has hosted the first stakeholder engagement event for its Cognitive Analytics Research Lab (CARL), which is set up to establish the North West as a leading centre for artificial intelligence innovation.
Held on the Derry~Londonderry campus, the event brought together local businesses from a wide range of sectors to explore how industry can engage with the University on collaborative research and development, influence future skills provision, and help unlock the potential of AI to drive competitiveness and regional innovation.
Transformative projects, such as CARL are driving growth and development of the North West – delivering more students, jobs and long-term economic impact through strategic investment and collaboration.
CARL is one of two innovation centres of excellence in the Cognitive Analytics and Digital Robotics Innovation Centre (CADRIC) Derry~Londonderry Strabane Region City Deal, a £39m project, driven by cutting edge research in digital robotics and Neuro AI. It will establish the North West as one of the best places globally to design, develop and launch innovative products and services.
CARL provides businesses with access to cutting-edge academic research, facilities, and talent to co-create bespoke AI solutions – improving competitiveness and operational efficiency without the need for major upfront investment. The initiative also supports talent development and skills generation, ensuring a pipeline of highly skilled AI graduates ready to meet future workforce demands.
The event outlined CARL’s collaborative R&D opportunities, including how businesses can help shape training and skills provision in partnership with the University. Attendees also heard how public-private-academic collaboration is central to the project’s long-term success.
Professor Jim Harkin, Head of the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University, said:
"The CARL stakeholder engagement workshop presents a vital opportunity to collaborate with our industry partners and help shape how the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems can better support the evolving needs of current and future employers via our graduates.
"Skills development is a central pillar of the CARL initiative, and we are proud to have received strong stakeholder engagement to date. This has directly influenced the introduction of two key programmes aligned with the CARL vision – the MSc Ethical and Responsible AI and the BSc (Hons) Computing with Applied Mathematics – both of which are designed to equip students with the critical capabilities required in tomorrow’s workforce."
The event also featured input from Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC), who presented their vision for the wider City Deal projects, as well as invited speakers from the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, who shared valuable learnings from their own innovation hub journey.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, welcoming the CARL workshop, said:
“Today’s workshop provided an opportunity to discuss our ambitious City Deal plans in parallel with other locations that have seen the transformative benefits of similar investment. We are confident of the wide-ranging impacts for the North West City Region and today’s event has provided further affirmation that we are on the pathway to positioning our region as a centre of excellence in both innovation and enterprise.
"We also had the opportunity to showcase our Innovation Hub project which will serve as a launchpad for entrepreneurs, students, and local businesses alike - offering access to state-of-the-art technology, expert business guidance, and the support needed to transform ideas into impactful, market-ready ventures. It is a shining example of how we are building a more prosperous, inclusive, and forward-thinking future for all.”
Neil McGillivray, Chief Operating Officer, Bayes Centre, The University of Edinburgh, said:
“The Data Driven Innovation (DDI) Initiative, part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, was established to reflect the growing importance of data in economic growth, social change and public services.
"Our Bayes Centre journey has provided an opportunity to develop new collaborations and partnerships, built upon our institutional and regional strengths. During our session we focussed on the operational opportunities, and challenges, that come with developing such a model within an HE institution – and ultimately how it can be an economic driver for the region. I wish the CARL project team every success - we look forward to supporting your journey.”
John Scott, Head of DDI Programme Delivery, University of Edinburgh, added:
“As we celebrate the launch of CARL, we recognise the power of cross-institute, multi-disciplinary engagement to drive innovation. While our respective regions each bring distinctive strengths and skills, it is through open collaboration and shared learning that we all advance, creating greater opportunities for research, talent development, and impact across and beyond our regions.”
If your organisation is interested in discovering how CARL can support its research and development needs, contact sceis@ulster.ac.uk.
For more information on Ulster University's new programmes aligned with the CARL initiative, visit:
