Exploring I-X: Imperial’s interdisciplinary AI initiative at White City Deep Tech Campus
I-X is Imperial’s artificial intelligence initiative. This exciting new focal point for interdisciplinarity is delivering a vital collaborative on-site environment that is driving research, education and entrepreneurship at the nexus of AI and machine learning, advanced robotics, data science and digital technologies.
With its fast-growing community and from its strategic base in White City Innovation District’s I-HUB, I-X today convenes over 200 researchers, including academic staff members, post-doctoral researchers, and PhD students from 20 different departments. I-X’s extensive research major programme aims to address challenges in the foundations and applications of AI – including solving our most urgent issues in science, health, sustainability, economics, and defence – and generate transformative breakthroughs with a clear benefit to society.
We spoke with Professor Sophia Yaliraki, I-X Co-Director of Engagement and founder of Imperial’s Institute for Digital Molecular Design and Fabrication – DigiFAB, about I-X’s beginnings, its core mission, and where next-generation AI technologies might be heading.
Q: Why was I-X created and what are its aims?
A:I-X was created to bring together colleagues from different departments across Imperial who are working in AI, harnessing interdisciplinarity to tackle bigger problems together.
Co-locating researchers is a key part of the drive to create serendipity and make major advances. With physics, medicine and chemistry working just down the corridor from engineering and computer science, we’re seeking to promote an atmosphere where exceptional ideas can germinate in ways that are just not possible in isolation.
The founding departments of I-X included Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computing, Mathematics, and the Imperial Business School, but we now have colleagues from across Imperial – from Bioengineering and Chemistry to the Faculty of Medicine. Since AI technology is everywhere, any researcher from the university can join, and it’s really important for us to continue to build the breadth and depth of knowledge that can accelerate advances in our principal research areas. This October, we also welcomed the first cohort of students for our MSc programme in Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovation, making it an incredibly exciting time for us.
Attendees pictured at the I-X Breaking Topics in AI Conference, held on 20th November at Scale Space White City. Topics covered by the international plenary speakers included AI Safety, AI Foundations, Signals and AI, and Imaging and AI.
Q: What is your role in I-X?
A: My role is primarily focused on engagement, which involves liaising internally at Imperial and building strong links with organisations from across White City Innovation District, including companies based at I-HUB and Scale Space. I also see my role as helping the I-X faculty to thrive, supporting and mentoring young colleagues at I-X, as well as optimising engagement at all levels – from forging relationships within academia and the local community to connecting with industry and international collaborations. I also work closely with the Chair and the other Co-Directors as well as the brilliant I-X Operations Team.
Q: Why was it important for I-X to be located in White City Innovation District?
A: The ability to take advantage of what’s happening in White City Innovation District and the White City Deep Tech Campus is absolutely pivotal to our mission. For us, it’s a question of thinking about how universities should be organised in the 21st century. I-X is essentially a testbed for how research-based institutions could be evolving. Being embedded within a dynamic innovation ecosystem – at the I-HUB, surrounded by start-ups – offers that porous environment that we need and is a crucial component in delivering our vision.
The other very important aspect of our location in White City is delivering programmes for social good. We work directly with local communities and key facilities, such as the Hammersmith Hospital, to ensure they benefit from our advancements in areas like environmental research, health, and education. In terms of building that community engagement, our partnership with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is essential. For example, we run the Imperial Tours Outreach Programme for local schools and we’re looking to grow this going forward and bring in even more schools from the area. We also work at a government level, with Westminster, and we’re now tapping into a number of emerging international networks, so it really is a multi-sphere operation – we act local but think global.
Interior walkway on the 6th floor of the I-X Institute in White City Innovation District
Q: What impact is I-X having and what exciting projects are you involved in at the moment?
A: We’re working hard to deliver the best possible impacts for everyone from AI technologies. What’s encouraging is that many universities are contacting us because they want to start interdisciplinary AI initiatives like ours, and they want to learn what’s worked and what hasn’t so that they can take those lessons into their own institutions. So, I-X really is a pathfinder initiative in that respect and has a significant role to play in transforming how universities can positively guide the development and implementation of game-changing technologies such as AI.
In terms of current projects, my own area of research is in digital chemistry and last year we secured funding from UKRI to launch the AIchemy Hub, which is incredibly exciting. AIchemy is bringing together the chemistry community in the UK to harness AI, data, and automation for chemical research but it is also helping individual researchers to come into the field by removing barriers to entry.
Two other noteworthy areas of research at the moment are Safe AI – where we’re leveraging recognised Imperial’s expertise in techniques that can provide safety within AI methodologies – and AI in healthcare where, again, Imperial has dominant advantages. I-X has recently secured a major grant to explore using AI to support early cancer diagnosis in general practice.
During the last year, we’ve also hosted teams from across government and we provide advice and bespoke seminars for civil servants who are keen to understand the key areas of research advances, the potential impacts of AI, and the likely requirements for upskilling at a societal level. I-X is one of the beneficiaries of an Imperial-wide grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, so we have an ongoing dialogue with the UK government on relevant initiatives. As our work progresses, we’ll continue to build on those links and promote the exchange of ideas across all parts of government that should be part of the conversation.
Q: What do you think are some of the biggest challenges currently in AI?
A: I think one of the main challenges is how to educate and upskill all generations in new technologies that are moving very quickly indeed. Moreover, how to use AI technologies responsibly and in a way that benefits the goals of individuals, businesses and society as a whole. There is a huge amount happening in AI today but not enough clarity on the benefits and where it can be effectively used. I hope that I-X can be one of the leaders and superconnectors in this global debate and provide innovative solutions.
Q: How can the wider White City Innovation District community get involved with I-X?
A: The White City community is very welcome to attend our events, which are advertised on the I-X website and listed on the WCID event page.This year, we also hosted our very first Open Day, welcoming schools, organisations and individuals into I-X. It was an incredibly rewarding experience – we’ve had people visit us from all over the world! Next year, we’re planning to expand our external engagements and encourage even more people to come and see first-hand the work that we’re doing here.
APPLIED INTELLIGENCE: THE I-X MISSION
- To unlock the opportunities of AI through interdisciplinary research collaborations
- To benefit society by conducting foundational and applied AI research
- To develop and deliver innovative education in AI
- To maintain a vibrant AI community through physical co-location
- To catalyse the broad AI expertise and opportunities at Imperial College London
- To establish new collaboration and commercialisation models with industry in AI
- To lead public engagement and outreach activities in AI
- To inform and engage with government and policy makers on AI topics
ENGAGING INDUSTRY: I-X BUSINESS PARTNERS
Earlier this month, I-X announced that it will be hosting Fetch.ai’s newest Innovation Lab at its I-HUB base. Fetch.ai, a company at the forefront of agent-based artificial intelligence, has been a member of I-X Business Partners since last autumn and collaborating extensively across Imperial’s ecosystem.
The new Fetch.ai Innovation Lab will foster collaboration between academia, industry, and Imperial’s high-calibre student population – pushing the boundaries of AI, machine learning and autonomous systems technology for real-world applications.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Fetch.ai and participating in this exciting initiative. I-X’s involvement in the Innovation Lab marks another significant step in our mission to catalyse societal change through AI and digital technologies. This collaboration will not only foster innovation, enhancing the dynamic environment of White City, but will also contribute to our commitment to bringing academia, industry, policymakers, and the local community together to deliver safe and robust digital solutions for the common good.”
Professor Sophia Yaliraki, I-X Co-Director for Engagement
I-X’s goal is to create opportunities for innovators to think strategically about how to leverage AI technologies to build a better future, bringing together universities, business, government and talented students.
I-X welcomes a wide range of industry collaborations, including industrial research and PhD sponsorships. To explore collaboration opportunities for your organisation, contact the I-X team.
