The event was organised in response to the recently published AI Opportunities Action Plan and brought together leading researchers, policymakers, and local authority representatives. Key partners included Nottingham City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, both of whom have been actively collaborating with Loughborough-led research project TraffEase to explore generative AI innovations in transport.
Loughborough University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings opened the event by underscoring the importance of partnerships with local authorities in ensuring AI research translates into real-world impact. He emphasised the need for a proactive approach to harness AI for public good and highlighted the significance of scalable projects like TraffEase in demonstrating “the art of the possible.”
The opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion which was chaired by Dr Haitao He, Director of TRAICE, included:
- Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor Loughborough University
- Lord Tony Berkeley OBE, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
- Professor Ashleigh Filtness, DfT College of Experts
- Aditya Sivanand, Deputy Head of Organisational AI, Department for Transport
- Sam Li, Senior Innovation Officer, Transport for Greater Manchester
- Dr Simon Dale, Lead for Highway Metrics, Nottingham City Council
The discussion reinforced the critical need for collaboration between universities, government, and local authorities to fully harness AI’s potential.
Lord Tony Berkeley OBE, who sits in the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee also emphasised the importance of contributions from non-Russell Group universities to government consultations and parliamentary inquiries, ensuring diverse expertise informs national AI strategies.
Following the panel discussion, three Loughborough University researchers presented their cutting-edge research in collaboration with local authorities, which is now driving meaningful impact in the communities:
- Colouring Britain (with Charnwood Borough Council) – presented by Dr Taimaz Larimian
- AI-based solutions for social care (with Leicestershire County Council) – presented by Professor Georgina Cosma
- TraffEase (with Nottingham City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester) – presented by Rowan Davies
Following the event, Professor Haitao He said: “At TRAICE, we are committed to championing an interdisciplinary approach to developing AI solutions that are not only innovative but also responsible and impactful in the real world. As we establish TRAICE as a leading centre for AI-driven transport innovations, this event underscored the power of collaboration with local authorities in ensuring AI serves the public good. We look forward to building on this momentum to shape the future of AI in transport and beyond.”
The TRAICE team recently published a policy briefing on the application of generative AI in the public sector.