TechNExt is a celebration of the North East’s thriving technology sector. The Data & AI Hub sponsored by hedgehog lab, brought together experts, innovators and leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping artificial intelligence, machine learning and the data foundations that power them.

This particular panel discussion focused on taking AI from pilot to production and creating genuine business value. Huge thanks to hedgehog lab host Katy Nokes as well as our panellists Anshuman Bagri, Russell Collingham, Logan Oliver and Mujeeb Ahmed for sharing their expertise and experiences. The response was incredible: a packed main stage, plenty of audience engagement, and honestly, it felt like a conversation that could have gone on much longer.

The National Edge AI Hub invites UK academic institutions to collaborate on the development and delivery of events and workshops focused on all aspects of edge artificial intelligence. We are keen to work with colleagues across disciplines who are exploring or interested in edge AI, from foundational research through to real world applications.

The Hub can support those interested in hosting an event with practical and financial aspects of event delivery, including identifying speakers, event logistics, catering costs, and promotional activity. Our aim is to make it straightforward to convene high quality, inclusive events that foster collaboration, share emerging insights, and strengthen the UK edge AI community. We expect local engagement partners to make spaces available for free, to organise and facilitate the agenda and to ensure relevant stakeholders join the event.

We welcome proposals for workshops, seminars, training sessions, and interdisciplinary forums. If you are interested in developing a joint event or would like to discuss an idea, please get in touch via email: hub@edgeaihub.co.uk

The National Edge AI Hub successfully delivered its two-day CPD programme, Turning AI Expertise into Ventures, bringing together engineers, researchers and emerging talent to explore how advanced technical capability can be translated into real-world impact.

Held on 18–19 May at the Hub’s headquarters in Newcastle, the programme marked a significant step in strengthening the UK’s edge AI ecosystem. Designed as an accessible yet intensive introduction to commercialisation, the CPD supported participants in moving beyond technical performance toward value creation, market understanding, and responsible innovation.

Across the two days, attendees developed practical skills in ideation, customer discovery, business modelling, and market validation. Sessions guided participants from early-stage ideas through to forming initial value propositions and understanding routes to growth. The programme also emphasised responsible AI, ensuring that innovation is aligned with ethical considerations and long-term societal benefit.

The sessions were led by an interdisciplinary team of experts: Dr Dinara Davlembayeva, Dr Davit Marikyan (Newcastle University Business School), and Dr Mujeeb Ahmed (School of Computing Science). Their combined expertise provided participants with a rare blend of technical insight and commercial perspective, equipping them with the tools to explore venture creation with confidence.
 
A standout highlight of the programme was the “Practice Insights” keynote sessions delivered by Hello AI, which were met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants.
 
Daniel Tudorana-Clark, Managing Director of Hello AI, delivered a highly engaging session on AI adoption, offering real-world insights into how organisations can successfully integrate AI technologies. Drawing on practical experience, his keynote bridged the gap between theory and implementation, demonstrating what it takes to drive adoption at scale.
 
Sean Gorman, Client Services Director at Hello AI, provided an equally impactful session on commercialising AI solutions. His talk explored how organisations can translate AI capability into viable products and services, highlighting common challenges and strategies for success.
 
Together, the Hello AI sessions were widely regarded as a key highlight of the programme, bringing clarity, relevance, and inspiration to participants considering their own ventures. Their contributions reinforced the importance of industry collaboration in supporting the next generation of AI innovators.

Beyond the sessions themselves, the programme formed part of a broader engagement pathway offered by the National Edge AI Hub. Participants leave with stronger problem definitions, early business models, and a shared language around markets and customers, forming a foundation for further development through mentoring, incubation support, and continued CPD opportunities.
 
By creating a clear pathway from technical expertise to venture formation, the programme directly supports the Hub’s mission: to build national capacity in edge AI and drive meaningful societal and industrial impact.

The National Edge AI Hub is launching a free two‑day CPD programme designed to help engineers and researchers turn strong technical skills into real‑world impact.

Across 18-19 May 2026 in Newcastle, participants will explore idea generation, market understanding, business models, technology adoption, responsible AI, funding routes and more, all focused on developing viable AI‑driven ventures.

Perfect for engineers, computer scientists, final‑year students, postgrads and recent graduates with little or no business experience.

USB Building (Newcastle University), Newcastle upon Tyne
Free to attend (both days required)

Agenda Highlights:

Day 1:
• Ideation & opportunity discovery
• Understanding customers, markets & competitors
• Business model development
• Hypothesis testing & user feedback
• Team formation

Day 2:
• Business models in practice
• Technology adoption & diffusion
• Prototyping & MVPs
• Responsible AI & legal considerations
• Funding, financial foundations & go‑to‑market strategies


Read more about the event and apply now: Edge AI / CPD – Turning AI Expertise into Ventures – EPSRC National Edge Artificial Intelligence Hub

If you’re ready to move from capability to commercial opportunity, this is your starting point.

We are pleased to share that members of the National Edge AI Hub are organising the DigiTwinsAI 2026 Workshop, co‑located with IEEE MDM 2026.

DigiTwinsAI 2026 brings together researchers, industry experts, and practitioners to explore the rapidly evolving intersection of Digital Twins, AI, and edge-intelligent systems. As digital twins continue to transform sectors, from healthcare and manufacturing to smart cities and environmental monitoring, this workshop offers a unique platform to discuss breakthroughs, challenges, and real‑world deployments.

Workshop: DigiTwinsAI 2026

The 27th IEEE International Conference on Mobile Data Management
June 29th – July 2nd
Athens, Greece

Learn more: https://sites.google.com/view/digitwinsai2026/home

The workshop aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from data management, artificial intelligence, robotics, and cyber-physical systems to explore foundations, systems, and applications towards smart mobility systems.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
-Digital twins for smart mobility systems 
-Physical dependencies aware AI models 
-Platforms for physical AI and Digital Twin-based systems for smart mobility solutions
-Real-time/closed-loop decision support
-Multimodal data management (sensor, trajectory, spatial-temporal, V2X, video)
-Urban- and infrastructure-scale for physical AI and Digital Twin-based solutions
-Data-driven modelling, simulation, and co-simulation in Digital Twins
-Digital Twin discovery, integration, and coordination for smart mobility

Important Dates for the CFP:

06/04/2026 – Paper Submission Deadline 
01/05/2026 – Notification of Acceptance
10/05/2026 – Camera Ready Submission Deadline

Today marked an exciting milestone as we officially launched the collaboration between the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)’s iTrust, and the National Edge Artificial Intelligence Hub.

This partnership is a significant step in expanding secure, deployable Edge AI research into new contexts and application domains. By bringing together the Hub’s deep technical expertise with SUTD and iTrust’s advanced testbeds and strong industry connections, we are creating powerful pathways that move cutting‑edge research toward real‑world impact. The collaboration opens doors to shared innovation, richer international engagement, and opportunities for joint development across sectors.

A Morning of Insight and Innovation

The event brought together researchers, industry partners, and members of both institutions for a dynamic programme, beginning with networking over morning refreshments and followed by opening remarks on the vision behind the partnership.

Attendees heard introductions to iTrust and the National Edge AI Hub, including a keynote from Professor Rajiv Ranjan and a few opening words from Newcastle University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Chris Day. The programme featured presentations from both Hub and iTrust speakers, Professor Carsten Maple, Professor Phil James, and colleagues from SUTD, who shared perspectives on emerging challenges and opportunities within the Edge AI landscape. Engaging discussions and Q&A sessions helped surface ideas for future collaboration and joint research activities.

Recognising Excellence

A highlight of the event was the National Edge AI Hub Award Ceremony, celebrating 6 individuals whose contributions are helping push the boundaries of secure and impactful Edge AI. This was followed by the iTrust CiMS Award Ceremony, recognising four awardees for their achievements and commitment to innovation.

Looking Ahead

We extend our gratitude to our partners at SUTD and iTrust for their leadership, collaboration, and warm hospitality. Today’s launch represents the beginning of a deeper partnership, and we look forward to welcoming colleagues to Newcastle in the near future as we continue building a shared ecosystem for transformative Edge AI research.

The National Edge AI Hub was thrilled to support the UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) Doctoral Consortium and Conference that took place in Newcastle on April 22-24, 2025. UKAIS aims to foster a better understanding of the Information Systems field within the UK. The UKAIS Conference is the leading event on Information Systems within the UK, and attracts scholars from the UK and overseas. They provide a forum for discussing issues in Information Systems teaching and research and lobby professional/policy bodies on behalf of the field.

The Hub hosted a session led by Professor Savvas Papagiannidis, who shared the Hub’s strategies for engagement and long-term impact. He spoke on the importance of embedding research within real-world contexts and encouraged attendees to think beyond their current projects, stressing the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need to develop soft skills in parallel with research skills. He also offered practical guidance on how early career researchers can begin building experiences that will have a positive impact on the course of their careers. He emphasised the importance of developing a deep understanding of deployment environments, forming relationships with industry partners, and contributing to a broader ecosystem of innovation.

Our EdgeAI Hub is taking part at the AI UK 2025, the national showcase of data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Hosted by The Alan Turing Institute and returning for its fifth year, AI UK is an in-depth exploration of how data science and AI can be used to solve real-world challenges. Our diverse programme is thematically structured around the latest innovations from across the AI ecosystem. With a broad range of interactive content, covering the latest thinking on fundamental AI, digital twins, algorithmic bias, AI ethics – and much more.

Come and visit our stand on the 5th floor!

https://ai-uk.turing.ac.uk