AI for Innovation 2025: Insights from Industry and Academia
The Liverpool Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science (LIV.INNO) hosted the ‘AI for Innovation’ conference which was held online on Wednesday 7th May. The conference attracted over 100 delegates from across industry and academia who came together to discuss impact of AI on business and the opportunities for gain. These big questions challenge those tasked with innovation strategy and new product development across all industry sectors.
The conference was targeted at businesses interested in the potential benefits of AI to their products and internal processes, but needed further information into how it may be safely implemented. Delegates were provided context for recent AI developments, offered insights from data scientists, and participated in discussions focussed on real-world industry experience from those who have started their journey.
The conference opened with a welcome from LIV.INNO director Professor Carsten P Welsch, and was followed by talks from industry leaders Andy Walker, Head of Commercial for Deep Tech at TTP, and Ben Scowen, Vice President and UK&I Cloud Practice Lead at Kyndryl. Andy provided an excellent overview of innovation in and with AI, while Ben discussed the exciting launch of Kyndryl’s AI Innovation Lab in the historic Liver Building, and the opportunities for businesses to benefit from the wealth of talent developed the city’s universities.
Delegates were next invited to join a series of small group discussions focussed on an area of AI which was most relevant to them. These were AI for product development, AI for improving processes, AI for agent development and AI in highly regulated and safety critical environments. Expert speakers introduced the topic for each group before a facilitated discussion took place between the speakers and the audience for each group.
The conference wrapped up with talks from Sana Khareghani, a Professor of Practice in AI at Kings College London and Robert Cooper, Professor Emeritus at the McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in Canada. Sana provided a UK-wide perspective of AI opportunities for growth and innovation in the context of the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, while Robert highlighted the disparity between countries in AI adoption and the upside for businesses in applying AI to various components of their operations.
LIV.INNO Director Carsten P Welsch said: “The excellent discussion throughout the event highlighted just how essential and timely this conversation is. It was inspiring to see so many leaders from academia and industry actively engaging with the opportunities AI presents. The questions raised and insights shared reflect a growing readiness to turn curiosity into action. I am confident that the collaborations sparked today will accelerate real, measurable innovation across sectors.”
The talks from the plenary sessions of this conference can be viewed online until 6th June at 5pm BST using the following links: