Innovation accelerator launches to grow Greater Manchester’s AI ecosystem

A new innovation accelerator has launched in Greater Manchester to further enhance the city-region’s growing AI ecosystem and hub for business growth, skills and research.

The Turing Innovation Catalyst (TIC) is part of the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator and is a joint venture with the University of Manchester and BruntwoodSciTech’s ID Manchester district in the city centre. The organisation is being incubated within The University of Manchester for a period of 18 months where it will accelerate AI talent, drive research and development, and create skills programmes.

The initial programme of work announced for the TIC includes an accelerator for AI startups, and a PhD venture builder to equip research talent with the skills to commercialise their innovation. Skills programmes will also launch to improve access to AI careers for women and other underrepresented groups in the sector.

Upon its completion, the innovation catalyst will go on to establish hubs in other boroughs of Greater Manchester, with the first set to launch in November in Rochdale.

Liz Scott MBE, Director at Turing Innovation Catalyst, said:

“We’ve been working behind the scenes to set up our foundational programme for the Turing Innovation Catalyst, and we’re delighted to finally launch it. TIC is all about leveraging the incredible talent in Manchester’s innovation sector and building it up to drive us forward. AI is part of so many conversations at the moment, and the opportunities out there are monumental.

“We’re delighted to be working with so many remarkable partners through our work, and there are lots of ways to get involved with the programme. We’ve already started to do some great things, including recruiting the first cohort for our venture builder, and the future is truly bright for Manchester’s AI sector.”

The first of the TIC skills programmes are now live, with the first cohort from the venture builder set to graduate in the next month.