The UK Government is to make £100 million available to support projects using AI in the fields of life sciences and healthcare.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have announced the launch of the AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission.
While stating that the announcement is subject to a full business case, they said the funding will support investment to test and trial new technologies over the next 18 months, and to develop a new data infrastructure for mental health research over the next five years.
The Government will invite proposals that bring together academia, industry and clinicians to develop new solutions, and the funding will be targeted at the deployment of AI n clinical settings. It will also support novel AI research with the potential to create general purpose applications.
This supports work already being done using AI to tackle conditions such as strokes and dementia.
Unique strengths
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said: “This £100 million mission will bring the UK’s unique strengths in secure health data and cutting edge AI to bear on some of the most pressing health challenges facing the society.
“Safe, responsible AI will change the game for what it’s possible to do in healthcare, closing the gap between the discovery and application of innovative new therapies, diagnostic tools, and ways of working that will give clinicians more time with their patients.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Cutting edge technology such as AI is the key to both improving patient care and supporting staff to do their jobs and we are seeing positive impacts across the NHS.
“This new accelerator fund will help us build on our efforts to harness the latest technology to unlock progress and drive economic growth.”
