---
# System prepended metadata

title: AIUK 2024 Innovation Labs
tags: [meeting-notes, planning]

---


###### tags: `meeting-notes` `planning` `aiuk2024`



## Useful links


- [AIUK schedule](https://thealanturininstitute.sharepoint.com/:x:/r/sites/ee/Site%20Documents/Events/6.%20AI%20UK/2024/Programme/Programme%20Advisory%20Group/AI%20UK%202024%20working%20draft%20programme%20v.1.xlsxd=w4b6a13f72049445d96341f53fde46136&csf=1&web=1&e=Xca8PR)
- [Miro board for brainstorming ideation framework](https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVN9Sxghk=/)
 - Other conferences / organisations to draw inspiration from
      - [AI summit London](https://london.theaisummit.com/conference-agenda)
      - [Bayes Centre Accelerator Programme in Edinburgh](https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes/accelerating-entrepreneurship)
      - [SPRIND in Germany](https://www.sprind.org/en/)
      - [Falling Walls - Venture sessions in Berlin](https://falling-walls.com/venture/about/)
      - [Algopreneurship](https://www.algopreneurship.org/mission)
- [9 ideation frameworks from NFX](https://www.nfx.com/post/nine-ideation-frameworks)
- [12 Frameworks for Finding Startup Ideas — Advice for Future Founders](https://review.firstround.com/12-frameworks-for-finding-startup-ideas-advice-for-future-founders)
- [The Open Prototyping framework](https://www.newreal.cc/open-prototyping)
- [The Three Horizons of innovation and culture change](https://medium.com/activate-the-future/the-three-horizons-of-innovation-and-culture-change-d9681b0e0b0f)



## :notebook: Meeting notes

- Meeting 5: 17 January 2024 (Mishka & Lily)
    - speakers: ARIA contact, one more entrepreneur already attending AIUK, how many can get free tickets
        - Ask Jen / Alden or someone from RAM if they could join (ask Simon who he suggest)
        - Mishka to ask someone from the product team
    - MS form to be linked from workshop description?
        - Mishka to draft the form questions
        - promote through: AIUK blast emails, Entrepreneurship IG, Skills Newsletter Feb
    - share the workshop plan & discuss relevant logistics
        - room setup: Guild.. & Olivier room, cabaret style, 8 people at the table. aim 40 people
    - what needs to be ready sooner than later (Jan/Feb)
        - speakers to be announced early Feb
    - side questions: Sue Black, and reusing other sessions or workshops for Connections students.
        - Sue cannot attend
- Meeting 4: 10 January 2024 (Mishka, Drew & Denise)
    - who would be some suitable and inspiring panellists?
    - how can we design the workshop to ensure it is effective without the participants having done prior work?
    - workshop format
        - we need to ask participants to prepare in advance (eg reg form via MS Forms)
        - 3 tiers: participants register in advance, we send out info in advance, our ability to receive info from them
        - idea: ask participants to bring in a physical object to present their idea


    
- **Meetings:** 
    - Intro: 21 August 2023
    - Meeting 1: 25 Sept 2023
    - Meeting 2: 11 Oct 2023
    :::spoiler
        - some work undergoing already w/ GCs and the core capabilities & partnerships
        - Innovation festival - innovation framework called open prototyping 
        - topics: align with the Turing GC? 
        - an ideation framework likely to be drafted & set by the Turing
        - set a clear purpose, give a challenge, ensure it has a role in the wider event
        - balance around broad enough to appeal and specific enough to have a focus
        - define the session outcomes
        - how to incentivise participants to attend / value proposition
        - consider an audience outside academics: gov / public sector & industry (Turing convening?) - team formation bridging across sectors?
        - purpose: social innovation, community building
        - **Q:** BridgeAI - can we link up here? **A:** given different audiences, we will only focus on researchers for now
        - post session, building a community?
        - preparation prior to the session: homewor, bring a physical object
        - technique around matching people up: assign roles
        - GC -> mission topics -> alignment with innovation ideas. Or let it be participant driven -> collate data before the session and run the session accordingly
    :::
    - Meeting 3: 13 Nov 2023
    :::spoiler
    - **13 Nov 2023: Meeting with Simon, Drew, Mishka & Lily**
    - Desire / availability to take part in the session?
        - yes both from Drew & Simon. Drew to close the workshop and Simon to open it with a few remarks.
    - Advice on best ways to align this session with GC work?
        - consider GC themes & cross-GC but not specific missions. However given these won't be scoped out by AIUK, we can focus less on GC and more on Innovation & Skills.
    - Feedback on suggested ideation framework
        - business model canvas to walk them through the journey
        - incorrect link - Mishka to work on [the most updated one](https://www.newreal.cc/open-prototyping)
        - consider the three horizons framework / diagram
        - could shift focus to industry needs / research ideas / market gaps
    - Name ideas on suitable panelists (maybe already attending AIUK)? NB the current suggested ones are not too aligned with GC work areas
    - Need / desire to form a community of innovators through AIUK - can this help other work?
        - yes but strategy implementation & transformation programme are in flux atm therefore unclear right now how this community could continue grow.
        - keep high level the conversation around innovation as we don't know how we want that community to look like in the future
    - How to sell this workshop to non-academic folks?
    - Thoughts on making this session competitive?
        - agreed, but need to consider contingency if oversubscribed
    - Closing the workshop and next steps
        - wrap-up: lessons learnt & observations
        - mechanism to capture ideas: X threads?
        - tangible endpoint / outcome
    - Misc notes
        - workshop format: make it more engaging, less panel time. lightning talks?
        - Q: consider IP implications? A: not appropriate for the level of detail we expect participants to get involved with
        - inspiration over incubation
        - workshop format: world cafe discussions with experts
        - collaborate -> manifesto for research & innovation? 
:::

## Session page info: AIUK 2024 Innovation Labs
:::success

**Introduction**

AIUK 2024 presents a unique opportunity for conference delegates with an appetite for innovation & entrepreneurship to take their research ideas to the next level. We invite anyone with an interest in thinking about innovation avenues within data and AI research to our Innovation Lab. This is a great opportunity to directly engage with current innovators and those working within the Innovation ecosystem, and explore how you might be able to take your research ideas to drive novel scintific innovations. This could include a commercial business idea rooted in deep-tech, a start-up pitch for investors, or a social innovation idea aimed to improve welfare and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

During the two-hour highly interactive workshop you will hear from [Turing reps] and [panellists names] on their experiences and advice of navigating the research-to-market journey. In the second part, you will engage with other workshop participants to present, share feedback and hear innovation ideas, and to work through your skillset and identify where you'd fit best within the innovation ecosystem - from the type of roles within a company, to the kind of organisation you may best thrive in, and the angle which you'd best placed to approach innovation from.

Following the session, you will have an opportunity to optimise your ideation framework [tbc] and engage with the other participants to continue share good practice and resources around scientific research & innovation, becoming part of a lively community of entrepreneurship-minded individuals.


**Workshop outcomes for paricipants**
This session is aimed at those research-minded individuals motivated to open up their career to bring research ideas to the business market. Whilst the workshop last two hours during the conference, we expect successful participants to engage with the session and the topic both prior and following AIUK. 

All in all, we expect participants to:
1. Understand the business ideation process and experience it first-hand through a taster immersive event, with an opportunity to refine it following feedback.
2. Explore the business opportunity space within your own research interests or professional work. ~~and aligned with: Environment & Sustainability, Health & Medical Science, and Defence & Security (Digital Society & Policy too?)~~
3. Identify personal strenghts, weeknesses & motivations as an *innovator*, and meet fellow individuals who could complement your skillset.
4. Engage with current co-founders, innovation experts and other participants, becoming part of a growing community of innovation-minded researchers in data science & AI. 

**Who should apply**
Anyone working in the research ecosystem and actively thinking about entrepreneurship and innovation is encouraged to apply. This includes:
- academic researchers: doctoral students, early & mid-career researchers, as well as those individuals working in a research infrastructure role
- public sector & government representatives working in the policy, research or governance arms of data science & AI
- industry researchers working in data science, AI, technology, ethics and related fields 



---

### Before the session
To make the most out of this session, we ask you to please fill out an application form with a deadline set 4 weeks prior to AIUK. You should hear within two weeks from the deadline if you've been successful.

**Application questions**
- Personal details [same as AIUK registraiton Qs]
- Research remit & interests [200 words]
- ~~Alignment with grand challenge missions [drop-down menu]~~
- Research-to-market innovation idea [300 words]
- Personal interest and motivation for being an innovator, highlighting your personal strengths [200 words]
- Key words [up to 5, free text]

**For Turing use only: Selection process**:
- personal motivation 
- research alignment with GC & research-to-market business idea framing 
- where possible: team formation bridging across sectors
---
### During the session

**Agenda**



| Item | Duration | Stakeholders / Presenters |
| -------- | -------- | -------- |
| **Welcome**: motivation, set the scene & agenda, housekeeping    | 15 min     | Mishka & Simon    |
| **Lightning talks**: 5 inspiring stories, 5 minutes each, from 5 current innovators [aim: set tone & inspire the upcoming group sessions]    | 25 min   | Panellists [names TBC]     |
| **Session 1 - IDEAS**: Innovation pitch-fest    | 35 min     | 5 min participant presentation, 4 other group members & experts provide feedback     |
| **Session 2 - PEOPLE**: Co-founder blind dates OR World cafe with panellists   | 25 min     | 5 rounds x 5 min sharing of personal SWOT skillet & opportunity to identify prospective co-founders. Consider these [typical roles & duties](https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/the-3-co-founder-roles-you-need-and-when-to-bring-them-on/427476)    |
| **Wrap-up**: lessons learnt, summarise the session, next steps & thanks     | 20 min     | Drew & Mishka but engage highly with the participants    |

Example on Session 1 primer - Scope tool from Open Prototyping framework


---

### After the session


- Review and refine your business proposal (where applicable: with your identified co-founder) using a more detailed framework - see the [SPRIND application form for inspiration](https://www.sprind.org/en/new-project/)
- The Turing team and the workshop participants will share resources, inspiring founder stories as well as signpost to relevant opportunities for those willing to pursue their innovation ideas further.
- Continue engaging with the community via Slack / LinkedIn group (TBC) and offer an opportunity to publish impact stories from those participants willing to share the lessons learnt and short summaries of their innovation ideas, alongside their professional profiles.
:::

:dart: Expert / Facilitator ideas
---
Definitions:
- **Facilitator**: helps run the sessions, is a person working in the innovation ecosystem or facilitates the individual sub-sessions
- **Expert / Panelist**: is a current founder or co-founder, running an AI / data focused company. (*has expertise in the topic area? eg E&S GC*)


Panelist ideas:
| Name | Who suggested | Turing connection | Company |
| -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- |
| [Adriano Koshiyama](https://www.linkedin.com/in/koshiyama/?originalSubdomain=uk)     | Mishka     | Former enrichment student (2018), current collaborator on Skills     | [Holistic AI](https://www.holisticai.com/)     |
| [Tim Dodwell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-tim-dodwell/)     | Mishka     | PD for DCE & Turing AI Fellow     | [digiLab](https://www.digilab.co.uk/)     |
| [Omar Matar](https://www.turing.ac.uk/people/researchers/omar-matar)     | Sian     | DCE Strategic Lead     | [quaisr](https://www.quaisr.com)     |
| [Chanuki Seresinhe](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanukiseresinhe/?originalSubdomain=uk)     | Mishka     |  Former enrichment student (2018) & RA   | [Beautiful places AI](https://beautifulplaces.ai)      |
| Andrew Duncan     | Text     | Text     | Text     |
| Text     | Text     | Text     | Text     |
| Text     | Text     | Text     | Text     |
| Text     | Text     | Text     | Text     |

:closed_book: Actions
--
- [x] [name=Mishka] Identify most suitable ideation framework
- [x] [name=Mishka] reframe the wording to exclude start-ups bits
- [x] [name=Lily] Set up meeting with Simon
- [x] [name=Mishka] Tidy up HackMD & embed feedback and ideas from meetings
- [x] [name=Mishka] Build a list of potential facilitators 
- [x] Mishka & Drew to discuss and agree on ideation framework -> objectives & agenda
- [x] [name=Lily] Find out more about registration options & create event page
- [ ] TBC

## Key operational info
:::info

- **Motivation**
    - AIUK can feel quite *dry* and academic and while we promote responsible AI / data science for social good, we don't promote sufficiently innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation - all relevant for the academic -> industry transition on an entreprenorial level. 
 - **Aims and objectives**: 
    - open the conversation around innovation around individual scientific research
    - experience & understand an ideation framework 
    - wet the appetite or test the waters if the innovation spectrum is something worth exploring for each participant on an individual level
    - identify personal strengths and interests in the start-up world
    - bonus: identify one or two other participants suitable to be a *co-founder*
- **Registration**: required - see Application questions
- **Format**: Workshop 
- **Venue**: Olivier / Burton / Gielgud rooms (Second Floor, QEII)
- **Date & time**: 19 March 2024 (Day 1) - 1:30 - 3:20 pm
- **Capacity**: up to 40 participants [split in groups of 5] + 5-7 panelists & facilitators
- **Milestones**: AIUK contingent 
    - 24 Nov 2023: submit session pack
    - 11 Dec 2023: AIUK publishes programme
    - Dec 2023 - Jan 2024: secure speakers, finalise agenda
    - Jan - Feb 2024: workshop applications / registrations open
- **Stakeholders**

| Name | Role | Notes |
| -------- | -------- | -------- |
| Mishka (MN)     | Lead organiser     | Lead facilitator TBC     |
| Katy (KH)     | Support organiser     |      |
| Lily (LH)     | Orchestra director     |      |
| Simon (SR)     | Advisor     |      |
| Drew (DH)   | Advisor     |      |

:::


:bulb: Ideas
---
- Run a second workshop where the target audience are businesses looking to become AI / Data ready (see inspo from [BridgeAI residential innovation labs](https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/bridgeai-residential-innovation-labs/))
 - Invite previous Turing folks now working in the innovation sector
 - Invite Simon R / Adriano K / other previous Turing person now running an AI company to introduce the session or provide a talk 
- Build a Turing webpage / GitHub repo with resources for people to take away and use in the future
- Draft template on the final pitch
- Create Eventsforce profiles -> create page with the profiles (opt in to attend)
- Opportunity to invite RAM to support - in what capacity to be determined

:question: Dependables / pending questions
---
TBC

**KH notes**
:::spoiler
Think about innovation and how it can support
Researchers who are passionate about a certain field
Understand the value of their work if they wanted to commercialise it
Application domain > jobs > collab opps vs. get them off the ground in non-applied research

Ask people to fill things in in advance
Primers going

Rounds of people getting together over 3 months
Final goal is to find a co-founder 
Have you found each other’s strengths
Entrepreneur first
Ideation framework

Mishka’s contacts > former colleagues 

What format?
Who would deliver it?
How much budget? (e.g. if we asked a company ~£1/2k?)
:::


**LH notes**
:::spoiler
The motivation and target audience for this is strong but the format and 'speakers' or 'conveners' needs some work. Bascially, you've nailed the 'Why?' and 'What?' now we need to develop the 'Who?' and 'How?'

I'm not sure an hour of presentation followed by an hour of networking will be that dynamic. Is there a way we can do this where we jump right into the action? 

The Bayes Centre in Edinburgh run an accelerator and incubator programme. I wonder if it's worth reaching out to them to see if they'd be interested in helping to run this session--I think we want to engage people who are already working at the cross section of private, public and research industires? 

https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes/accelerating-entrepreneurship 

I would also recommend getting in touch with Nahim and the Bridge AI team to think about how we might be able to shape something with their knowledge and case studies. 

Basically, if we only have two hours, what's the most useful way we can spend the time--how can SMEs and ECR get the most out of this??

**When we revisit this, I'd love to have a really clear understanding of how the session will be structured from the minute you walk in the room to when we all go for a coffee break two hours later! As well as specifically who we want to be delivering this workshop??**

Let's just develop one workshop for now--but if, as you develop it, you realise 2 hours isn't enough or it's trying to do too many things, we can maybe look at two (but that's a big maybe). 

Love your work and so excited to see this evolve! 
:::


