Newsroom University of Swagֱ��

Swagֱ�� Prize: Digital Futures Expression of interest process (Review deadline 29th January)

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 14:28:22 +0000

Applications for the Swagֱ�� Prize are now open, with a deadline 12:00 GMT on 1 February 2024. To help to ensure coherence, avoid duplication and maximise the strength of UoM applications, Digital Futures are operating a light touch process of internal review and support, with senior input via a pan-University panel.

If you propose to lead on a application or if you propose to play a substantive role in one . If you have any questions please email digitalfutures@manchester.ac.uk. (If you are not lead please complete as much detail as possible; we recognise that you may not have all the required information at this stage.)

The first Swagֱ�� Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful AI solution which demonstrates social benefit by overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.

Solutions could include:

Reducing energy costs for consumers by using AI to model household energy use and identify targeted interventions, such as retrofitting and replacement.
Supporting emergency service response by bringing together a range of spatial data about the road and built environment to improve last mile routing.
Improving the response to extreme weather conditions by using AI and earth observation data to predict areas vulnerable to flooding, or to support better real-time spatial data of events such as wildfires and flash floods.
Reducing disruption to public services through predictive modelling of infrastructure resilience, with automated scheduling of maintenance, such as deploying teams to fix potholes or other traffic obstructions.
Enhancing food security by using earth observation and soil data to monitor and improve farming productivity and crop yield.
Improving efficiency and reducing resource consumption in manufacturing by using AI to optimise or automate energy-intensive processes.

These are examples of how Swagֱ�� Prize think you could address the overarching statement (but you’re welcome to think of your own).

Swagֱ�� Prize encourage solutions that demonstrate advances in technical capabilities such as generalisation, uncertainty quantification, interpretability, data-efficient AI and physics-based AI – but other approaches are welcome too.

Digital Futures | Review of AI – Get Involved

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:13:26 +0000

Please note that this is an internal-only input opportunity available to Swagֱ�� staff.

The aim is to understand the opportunities and challenges posed by AI across the full range of the University’s activities, and make recommendations for action. We know that many colleagues have already recognised opportunities, and sometimes the necessity, for innovation, and we are keen to hear about and learn from existing initiatives.

Please complete by Monday 4th December to tell us about existing AI initiatives of which you are aware (survey has one question only).

Swagֱ�� is proud to support National Productivity Week

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:53:27 +0000

A week-long series of events, seminars, conferences and panel discussions has been launched to address the UK’s productivity challenges.

National Productivity Week has been organised by The Productivity Institute, the ESRC-funded research body of which Swagֱ�� is a member alongside eight other institutions.

It will run from November 27 to December 1, and will bring together academics, business leaders, policymakers and thinktanks to share insights into - and provide potential solutions for - the productivity slowdown in the UK.

The North West Regional Productivity Forum, led by Swagֱ��, has organised a panel event about changing working patterns as part of the week. The panellists will discuss how companies should respond to increasing demands from some employees for flexibility, opportunities for remote and hybrid working and the growing calls for a four-day working week. To book your place, .

The week will also see The Productivity Institute launch the UK’s first Productivity Agenda, a 10-chapter report written by academics spanning the Universities of Swagֱ��, Cambridge, Cardiff, Kings College London and Warwick, among others. This will highlight nine key areas policymakers need to focus on to address productivity growth in the UK.

Business drivers of productivity

The Productivity Institute has identified five key drivers of productivity, and there are a number of our services that can help businesses with a number of these:

Innovation – our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships can help businesses innovate. Find out more here.

Worker skills, engagement, wellbeing and management competencies – skills and training are major enablers for firms to become more productive, and we know there is a link between productive firms and management practices.

Productivity research

Our academics have produced a wide range of research relating to productivity. Some highlights include:

uses uniquely detailed large-scale commercial real estate investment data to examine how financial markets perceived the attractiveness of investing in UK regions during the last two decades.

makes the case that integrating equality into the productivity agenda is essential for a medium to long term strategy for raising productivity that aims at improving well-being for all.

addresses the barriers to improving productivity in our region, and what needs to change to remove these.

To find out more about National Productivity Week, visit

To find out more about The Productivity Institute, visit

Threads of Empowerment - Supporting Charity and Celebrating Diversity at Swagֱ�� Pride

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:41:05 +0000

The ADE team had the privilege of collaborating with The Men's Room, now renamed "Our Room" - an amazing charity dedicated to supporting individuals from all walks of life. You can learn more about their inspiring work at https://mroom.co.uk/ .

Dr. Simeon Gill and the ADE team conducted an open body scanning session for all members of Our Room. Using cutting-edge technology, they captured body scans to create something truly unique - bespoke sweatshirt patterns for each individual!

These special sweatshirts are part of the "No Sweat Project," which focuses on utilising technology to craft bespoke patterns and garments. The result? Five one-of-a-kind sweatshirts, perfectly tailored to the unique shapes and sizes of the participants.

But that is not all! These sweatshirts were taken and beautifully decorated to be proudly worn during the Swagֱ�� Pride celebrations We're immensely proud to have been a part of this project with Our Room. The below images show off the incredible bespoke sweatshirts that were created

UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge – Call for Applications!

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:45:00 +0000

Please note that this is an internal-only opportunity available to Swagֱ�� students.

Make your mark in intelligence by applying to join Swagֱ�� Team for the ! The successful candidates will make a play for a place at the finals, which will include an all-expenses paid two-day trip to London (20 - 21 February 2024), spending two days in the iconic BT Tower, as well as receiving a stylish team hoodie!

Critical thinking and communications skills are essential; however technical knowledge is unnecessary. Our objective is to build a team as diverse as possible in terms of background and academic discipline.

The competition is an ideal experience in decision making during the time of a cyber crisis. You'll meet cyber security experts and representatives from across government and industry, providing you with incredible networking and future career opportunities. Current and previous partners have included BT, UK Civil Service, Sage, NATO, Beazley, Standard Chartered bank, and the Global Cyber Alliance.

You'll pit your wits against other teams as you respond to a complex and escalating cyber-attack with national and international ramifications. Over two days, comprising of three rounds, competing teams receive intelligence packs consisting of reports gathered from multiple sources. You'll work together to analyse the report, analyse the national and international implications of the content and then present your analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges from government and industry.

Apply before midnight on 20 November 2023 by e-mailing Prof Danny Dresner (daniel.dresner@manchester.ac.uk) with answers to the following questions:

Question 0: Your name, course of study, expected date of graduation.
Question 1: Why should you be at the 2023 Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge? Consider your skills, background and experience, how you can contribute, and why should you be chosen over other candidates? (maximum 500 words).
Question 2: What do you consider to be the most significant cyber incident (from open sources) to date and why? (maximum 500 words)
Question 3: Based on the National Cyber Strategy 2022 and other relevant UK government strategy documents, what should the UK do to meet its aspirations to be a responsible, democratic cyber power? Refer to current and historic policy and strategy in this area to support your answer. (maximum 500 words)
Question 4: How did you find out about the UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge?

Successful candidates will be notified by 29 November.

Good luck!

GMCA Digitober 2023

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:23:00 +0100

Organised by GMCA (Greater Swagֱ�� Combined Authority), Digitober is set to shine a spotlight on digital inclusion, innovation in public services, resilient infrastructure, and our role as global digital influencers.

In February 2023, GMCA refreshed the Greater Swagֱ�� Digital Blueprint. The blueprint sets out the next chapter in the ambition to be recognised as a world-leading digital city region. We remain committed to being a digital city-region with a difference.

Digitober is a month that will celebrate and showcase the amazing work of Greater Swagֱ��’s digital sector. In particular, the month will:

Showcase how partners across the region are ensuring everyone in Greater Swagֱ��, whatever their age, location or situation, can safely access and benefit from the opportunities digital brings if they want to.
Shine a spotlight on GMCA's digital inclusion ambitions.
Highlight how Greater Swagֱ�� is applying exemplary digital ideas and practice to reform and renew public services, linking innovative business, academic and public sector thinking with the needs of our people.
Celebrate Greater Swagֱ��'s world class digital infrastructure and how GMCA are using technology and data to create resilient, connected, accessible and sustainable places for everyone.
Spotlight how GMCA are strengthening their position as a global digital influencer.

At Digital Futures, we are proud to be part of this exciting initiative, and throughout the month, we will be releasing a video, mailings and a brochure to highlight the work we do in AI at the University.

As we celebrate Digitober, we invite you to join us on this digital journey. Stay tuned for the release of our AI video and brochure, and explore the incredible work happening in our University's AI ecosystem.

Interdisciplinary Research PS Network - March 2022

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:28:28 +0000

The March Interdisciplinary Research PS Network meeting was attended by 55 colleagues from across the University, who met virtually to hear updates and discuss synergies in areas relating to interdisciplinary activity at Swagֱ��.

Lynda McIntosh, Research Communications and Marketing Manager, and Vicky Taylor-Plane, Corporate Communications Manager, updated together on the REF communications plan and the Research Impact Showcase. This was followed by an update from Enna Bartlett, Biotechnology Beacon Communications and Marketing Manager, who presented on current activity in the Biotechnology Beacon. We then heard from Phil Wallace, Research Platforms Team (Digital Futures and Sustainable Futures) Communications and Engagement Coordinator, who updated on the and the North West Partnership for Security and Trust.

Sarah Barton, Research Platforms Team ( and Sustainable Futures) Strategy and Operations Manager, updated on DF/SF activity, including the development of major University, the ‘Digital Tools and Climate Responses’, the ‘Humans In The Loop: The Future of Design and Digital Manufacturing’, the Sustainable Futures, and the Advances in Data Science and AI.
Anne-Marie Nugnes, Creative Swagֱ�� Manager, also shared updates on activity, including news on the postponement of the Creative Swagֱ�� launch events to Autumn, the recruitment of a new intern, the planning of the platform’s seminar series, and plans to appoint focus area leads for each of the research themes.

Ad hoc updates were provided by Terri Lucas, Civic Engagement Manager, on the Engaging with Policymakers for the Arts and Humanities event; Leda Channer, Communications and Engagement Coordinator, on activity; Sabina Hawthornthwaite, Faculty Research Strategy Coordinator, on the Centre for Robotics and AI launch; and Matthew Harrison, IDSAI Manager, on the upcoming Turing Fellow ‘Spotlight’.

The next meeting of the network will take place on 19^th May 2022 and will include updates from Professor Mike Shaver, Sustainable Futures Director, Professor John McAuliffe, Creative Swagֱ�� Director, and Professor Chris Taylor, Digital Futures Director (TBC).

About the network:

This network brings together over 100 colleagues from across the University in PS interdisciplinary research roles, including Institute and Centre Managers, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange staff, and Beacons, Faculty and Corporate Communications and Marketing colleagues. The group meets every two months to hear updates from colleagues and discuss synergies and ways of working together across interdisciplinary activity at UoM. For more information, please contact Peter Kane.

Interdisciplinary Research PS Network - January 2022

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 13:45:40 +0000

The January Interdisciplinary Research PS Network meeting was attended by 50 colleagues from across the University. Sarah Barton Research Platforms Team ( and Sustainable Futures) Strategy and Operations Manager updated on recent DF/SF activity, including the recent appointment of academic leads for the five Sustainable Futures Challenge Areas; the Sustainable Futures bi-monthly , Wellcome ISSF sandpits (Jan and April), Spotlight from UoM’s Turing Fellows, the new Digital Trust and Security seminar , the annual Advances in Data Science , and the next GM Swagֱ��ed Health Ecosystem .

We then heard an update from Nicola Pike, Engagement & Operations Director for . Nicola provided the group with an overview of The Productivity Institute, context of the Institute’s work, people involved in the Institute at Swagֱ��, and explained how the Institute approached marketing, communications, and engagement.

This was followed by an update from Laura Dawson, Research Beacon Communications and Engagement Manager, who presented on the Levelling Up corporate communications campaign. The campaign targets policy makers (both national and local), industries and businesses, and the general public outlining what levelling up is and how the University participates in discussions around levelling up.

Lastly, Chris Peters, Communications and Engagement Manager for Policy@Swagֱ��, presented on the . The project will connect policy professionals with academics at CAPE university partners to discuss policy and research questions.

Ad hoc updates were provided by Vicky Taylor-Plane, Corporate Campaigns Manager, on the recent GM graduates communications campaign and Anne-Marie Nugnes, Creative Swagֱ�� Manager, on the Creative Swagֱ�� platform launch planned for spring.

The next meeting of the network will take place on 17 March 2022 and will include updates from Lynda McIntosh and Vicky Taylor-Plane on the REF Comms Plans and Research Impact Showcase, Enna Bartlett on the Biotechnology Beacon, and Phil Wallace on the Centre for Digital Trust & Society and the North West Partnership for Security & Trust.

About the network: