The University of Liverpool played a leading role in this year's Liverpool City Region International AI Summit, which attracted more than 800 delegates to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and society.
Now in its third year, the University has been a sponsor of the regional AI Summit since its inception. In 2026, the University continued to play a leading role through expert speakers, exhibitions and networking activities. Building on this, the University also hosted its own AI Discovery Day in partnership with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, bringing together University staff to explore how advances in AI can accelerate research and discovery, and translate innovation into real-world applications and impact.
The University's regional AI leadership is further reflected in Professor Katie Atkinson's membership of the new Liverpool City Region AI Task Force, which held its inaugural meeting on 28 October and will help shape the future development and adoption of AI across the region.
University participation
Ahead of the Summit, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, one of the event's keynote speakers, visited the University alongside Chief Information Officer Jerele Neeld. The delegation toured the University's Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) and Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), exploring opportunities for future collaboration in AI, digital innovation and research.
University researchers and associated industry partners contributed to discussions throughout the Summit, showcasing how Liverpool's expertise in AI is driving innovation across healthcare, materials discovery, transport and the creative industries.
Professor Iain Buchan, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), joined a panel on how AI is transforming healthcare, research and patient outcomes.
Professor Andy Cooper highlighted the University's flagship AI Materials Hub for Innovation (AIM-HI) programme, which is accelerating the application of AI in materials chemistry. AIM-HI, alongside NBIC-LIVE, was selected for more than £23.7 million in funding through UK Research and Innovation's Local Innovation (UKRI) Partnership Fund (LIPF) earlier this year.
The University's regional and international collaborations were also highlighted. Dr Patrick Ballantyne of Podaris discussed the KUDATA project, a collaboration involving the University and Liverpool City Region that uses digital twin technologies to improve transport connectivity and planning.
In a session exploring AI and creativity, Dr Jennifer Davies, Lecturer in Project Management, discussed MusicFutures, a University-led research and innovation programme exploring how emerging technologies, including AI, can support innovation and sustainable growth in the music industry.
Andrew Borland, Head of Commercial Operations and External Relations at the University's Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), also spoke on the Business Stage, highlighting how the Centre helps businesses apply AI, data science and digital engineering to solve real-world challenges, improve productivity and accelerate innovation.
Commitment:
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, said: "As a founding sponsor, we have supported the Liverpool City Region AI Summit from the outset, and it's fantastic to see how it has grown over the past three years.
"Through our AI for Life Research Frontier and our partnerships, we are turning AI research into real-world impact, tackling major challenges and creating new opportunities for businesses and communities.
"By working together, we can ensure AI drives innovation, economic growth and lasting benefits for society."
University-led AI Discovery Day
The following day, the University hosted its second AI Discovery Day in partnership with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, bringing together over 140 colleagues to explore how AI can accelerate research, innovation and real-world impact. Building on the University's growing capabilities and ambitions, including its AI for Life Research Frontier, the event featured interactive demonstrations, an AI Expert Exchange and a hands-on NVIDIA NemoClaw Lab, giving participants practical experience in developing and deploying AI agents.
The programme opened with contributions from Professor Katie Atkinson (pictured below), Andy Grant from NVIDIA and Tiffany St James, Liverpool City Region's Chief AI Officer. Parallel sessions brought together University researchers and experts from Dell Technologies and NVIDIA, including Dr Xenofon Evangelopoulos, Professor Mat Flynn, Dr Yang Zhang, Professor Simeon Yates and Professor Andy Jones, exploring AI applications in scientific discovery, music and the creative industries, social AI and healthcare.
A further session explored AI, autonomous systems and digital engineering, with contributions from Dr Konstantin Vikhorev, from the University's VEC, NVIDIA and industry partners at Glass Futures. The event concluded with a forward-looking discussion between Professor Richard Black, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Elliott Young from Dell Technologies, focusing on opportunities for future collaboration and translating AI research into practical applications.
View the full AI Discovery Day programme and speakers.
AI for Life Research Frontier
The University's AI for Life Research Frontier featured prominently, highlighting how Liverpool's research is harnessing AI to tackle major societal challenges, improve lives and drive innovation.
Professor Katie Atkinson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and co-chair of the Frontier, who also sits on the new Liverpool City Region AI Task Force, shared insights into the University's AI ambitions in an interview at the Summit.
Information for University of Liverpool staff
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