BRAID Responsible AI Demonstrators

# BRAID Responsible AI Demonstrators > [!INFO] About > This document is a draft proposal for the following UKRI BRAID call. It is to be used by the core project team to collaboratively draft the sections outlined, and to engage relevant partners. > > Key information includes: > > - Original call document: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/braid-responsible-ai-demonstrators/ > - Maximum award: £1,100,000 > - Max duration: 36 months > - Dates: > - Expression of Interest: 16th May 2024 4:00pm UK time > - Final Submission: 27 June 2024 4:00pm UK time > - Notification: December 2024 > - Fixed Start Date: 1 February 2025 > [!WARNING] Notable Requirements > > 1. Each demonstrator will be an intervention designed to advance RAI in a specific context. Examples include: > - a type of organisation, sector or both (for example, creative start-up, museum, bank, school) > - setting (for example, research lab, classroom, local authority) > - use case or application (for example, content generation, public service decision support, fraud detection) > 2. AHRC expects these projects to be co-designed and delivered in partnership with stakeholders outside of academia. > 3. Single discipline teams are out of scope. > 4. Majority of core team to have complementary expertise and to be in AHRC's remit. > 5. The inclusion of early career researchers and researchers from marginalised or under-represented groups at all stages is strongly encouraged. > 6. We encourage applications to have representation from at least two nations in the UK, this could be as academic or non-academic partners. > 7. Designed to support human-centred and humane AI innovation, demonstrators will be collaborative, co-produced projects that involve multiple stakeholder groups, including the public where appropriate. > 8. Our ambition is to demonstrate the transformative power of embedding responsible, human-centred approaches and thinking at the earliest stages of the AI R&D pipeline, and across the AI lifecycle. > 9. Funded projects will support this ambition by demonstrating and evaluating the application of one or more specific Responsible AI (RAI) practices, tools, techniques or other types of intervention, in a particular context and aligned to one or more of the BRAID programme’s delivery themes. > 10. Demonstrators must support BRAID objectives: > - test and evaluate responsible AI tools, techniques and approaches in real world settings > - inform RAI best practice by providing tangible examples with evaluations > - advance the RAI ecosystem, reinforcing the value of arts and humanities research and approaches > - provide intellectual leadership in the RAI ecosystem > 11. Delivery themes to align proposal to: > - AI for Humane Innovation: integrating within AI research the humanistic perspectives that enable the personal, cultural, and political flourishing of human beings, by weaving historical, philosophical, literary and other humane arts into dialogue with AI communities of research, policy and practice > - AI for Resilient Innovation: encouraging uplifting research, policy and practise to ensure AI ameliorates growing threats to global and national security, the rule of law, liberty, social cohesion, and sustainability > 12. Projects must share their engagement plans for how they will engage with the BRAID programme, and wider stakeholders as part of their application. ## Summary ###### Word Limit: 550 ``` In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application. We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example: - opinion-formers - policymakers - the public - the wider research community #### Guidance for writing a summary Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of: - context - the challenge the project addresses - the BRAID theme the proposal aligns with - aims and objectives - potential applications and benefits ``` As an attitude, responsibility is characterised by its forward-looking and anticipatory nature. In the context of responsible research and innovation for data-driven technologies, such as digital twins or artificial intelligence, this involves grappling with the inevitable uncertainty of future actions, choices, and consequences. Humans and society have developed a range of tools ## Core Team ``` List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: - project lead (PL) - project co-lead (UK) (PcL) - project co-lead (international) (PcL (I)) - specialist - grant manager - professional enabling staff, such as public engagement professionals - research and innovation associate - technician - visiting researcher You may only list one individual as project lead when assigning roles, but it can be made clear in the rest of the application where a co-project lead is being proposed. ``` ## Vision ###### Word Limit: 500 ``` What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how your proposed work: - is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s) - has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area - is timely given current trends, context, and needs - impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment - informs future research or interventions in the space of responsible AI - clearly aligns to the aims and themes of the BRAID programme Within the Vision section, we expect you to demonstrate clear relevance and fit to the aims and theme of the BRAID programme as outlined in the ‘Scope’ section. You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. References may be included within this section. ``` Our goal is to clearly demonstrate the practical value and positive impact of ethical deliberation, facilitated by our open-source and community-centred Trustworthy and Ethical Assurance platform. We envision a future where digital twins are harnessed to drive positive change in our world for the benefit of all. To achieve this, our project will empower researchers and developers to work openly and collaboratively to share structured forms of assurance that build a resilient and human-centred ecosystem of connected digital twins (or, cyber-physical infrastructure), and identify novel ways to co-create solutions with stakeholders and affected users across a project's lifecycle. *Situated at the intersection of cutting-edge science and innovation practices for digital twins, this project will...* *Build on the success and impact of our existing scoping research.* Working with key partners and collaborators across natural environment, health, and infrastructure (e.g. Met Office, NHS England, Heartflow, British Antarctic Survey, Imperial College London) the project team have assessed the existing needs and challenges of key actors within the digital twin and AI assurance ecosystem, and started to co-develop a repository of assurance cases that clearly articulate how responsible research and innovation practices can be embedded across varied domains to support wide-ranging goals, such as fairness, explainability, safety, interoperability, and synthetic data quality. *Build pathways between research and industry to support sustainable impact.* The team have also collaborated with the Digital Twin Hub (Innovate UK) to build a data-driven web app that can serve as an ongoing community pulse check for digital twin developers in industry. This will allow the community to regularly assess existing capabilities and needs, and extract insights using the data visualisation features built into the open-source application. *Align with emerging regulatory standards and guidance to grow the UK's assurance ecosystem*. We have also been collaborating with the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology) to ensure the benefits of this project extend beyond research and development to help grow the UK's regulatory capacity and enable a flourishing assurance ecosystem for both digital twins and AI more generally. ## Approach ###### Word Limit: 2500 ``` How are you going to deliver your proposed work? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how you have designed your approach so that it: - is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives - is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed - uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable) - summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable) - will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts - describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. References may be included within this section. Within the Approach section we also expect you to: - provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar. Please make sure to check sizing and readability of the image using ‘read view’ prior to submission - provide details of how the project team plan to engage with the BRAID programme and wider stakeholders (and the public where appropriate) ``` ## Applicant and team capability to deliver ###### Word Limit: 1650 ``` Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have: - the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work - the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work - the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others - contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community The word count for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions. Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work. Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the [UKRI guidance on R4RI](https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/before-you-apply/resume-for-research-and-innovation-r4ri-guidance/). You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings: - contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge - the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships - contributions to the wider research and innovation community - contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit Within the Applicant and team capability to deliver section we also expect you to: - provide a plan on how the different disciplines will work together, clearly articulating the role of arts and humanities within the project As a minimum, all named members of the leadership team should be discussed within this section of the form. If references or citations are deemed appropriate, these should be included within the section’s word limit. We would advise you not to include hyperlinks, as assessors are not obliged to access the information they lead to or consider it in their assessment of your application. If you are linking to web resources, to maintain the information’s integrity, include persistent identifiers (such as digital object identifiers) where possible. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. ##### Additions Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them). Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV. References may be included in this section. UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service. For full details, see [Eligibility as an individual](https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/before-you-apply/check-if-you-are-eligible-for-research-and-innovation-funding/eligibility-as-an-individual/#contents-list). You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. ``` ## Ethics and responsible research and innovation ###### Word Limit: 500 ``` What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why. ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated: - the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations - how you will manage these considerations You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service. As ethics and RRI are essential considerations to the BRAID programme and this funding opportunity, we expect: - you to have clearly thought through how you will address these in the context of responsible AI - plans to ensure health, safety and wellbeing of public audiences is effectively planned for and well-managed (if appropriate) - appropriate safeguarding, consent and ethical processes are put in place, which align with university and partner regulations ``` ## Research involving human participation ###### Word Limit: 700 ``` Will the project involve the use of human subjects or their personal information? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing research that requires the involvement of human subjects, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place. Justify the number and the diversity of the participants involved, as well as any procedures. Provide details of any areas of substantial or moderate severity of impact. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. ``` ## Resources and cost justification ###### Word Limit: 1000 ``` What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular: - project staff - significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences) - any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities - all facilities and infrastructure costs - all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’ Please also include any costings relating to public engagement activities where appropriate. Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work: - are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified - represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes - maximise potential outcomes and impacts We do not provide funding for individual items of equipment over £10,000. Please see section three of the [AHRC research funding guide](https://www.ukri.org/publications/ahrc-research-funding-guide/) for further information. ``` ## Governance ###### Word Limit: 500 ``` How will you manage the award to successfully deliver its objectives? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how the proposed award will be managed, demonstrating that it: - will be effectively governed, including details about advisory structures - will be effectively and inclusively managed, demonstrated by a clear management plan - has clear leadership team roles and responsibilities - will manage and encourage partnerships with non-HEI organisations across government, industry and civil society - has plans for monitoring your progress as well as self-evaluation throughout the lifetime of your award - will effectively manage reporting requirements to the BRAID programme Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. ``` ## Project Partners: Information ``` Add details about any project partners’ contributions. A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities. Add the following project partner details: - the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable) - the project partner contact name and email address - the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information. For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. ``` ## Project Partners: Letters of support ``` Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partner’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only. ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box. Each letter or email you provide should: - confirm the partner’s commitment to the project - clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them - describe any additional value that they bring to the project - the page limit is a maximum of two sides of A4 per partner The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section. For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. ``` ## Data management and sharing ###### Word Limit: 500 ``` How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published [data sharing policy](https://www.ukri.org/manage-your-award/publishing-your-research-findings/making-your-research-data-open/), which includes detailed guidance notes. ``` ## Trusted Research and Innovation ###### Word Limit: 100 ``` Does the proposed work involve international collaboration in a sensitive research or technology area? ##### What the assessors are looking for in your response Demonstrate how your proposed international collaboration relates to Trusted Research and Innovation, including: - list the countries your international project co-leads, project partners and visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in - if international collaboration is involved, explain whether this project is relevant to one or more of the [17 areas](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-on-notifiable-acquisitions/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-on-notifiable-acquisitions) of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act - if one or more of the [17 areas](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-on-notifiable-acquisitions/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-on-notifiable-acquisitions) of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act are involved list the areas If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration, answer ‘N/A’ here. We may ask you to provide additional information about how your proposed project will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help manage these risks ```