Press release

£100,000 for Research into Automation and Machine Intelligence

Dstl is collaborating with the Digital Catapult Centre to run an event that is open to businesses, organisations, innovators and academics.

Soldier manning UAV

The Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has up to £100,000 available to fund research into how automation and machine intelligence can analyse data to enhance decision making in the defence and security sectors. Dstl is continuing to invest in novel procurement routes and is collaborating with the Digital Catapult Centre to run a one and a half day workshop. The aim is to stimulate debate, generate ideas and to forge links with potential suppliers, before interested parties submit detailed proposals.

Simple autonomous agents, such as Siri and Google Now are already widely used. Advances in the fields of machine intelligence and data science will dramatically increase their functionality in the coming years. More advanced autonomous systems will help the military and security services to make decisions more quickly and effectively.

The Digital Catapult Centre will run a Pit Stop event in March 2017 that is open to businesses, organisations, innovators and academics that are active in this area. The Pit Stop is a secure and creative environment, designed to accelerate the growth of new ideas.

Dstl is keen to hear from innovators experienced in developing solutions for autonomous data analysis and interpretation, with expertise in the following areas:

  • Machine Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Machine Intelligence
  • Big Data
  • Automation
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Automated planning
  • Autonomous intelligence systems
  • Cognitive science

Attendees will be encouraged to submit detailed proposals for further research and for a share of the £100,000 funding that is available under this initiative.

More details and application forms are available. Places will be allocated to those with the most appropriate skills, expertise, services and products. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday 27 January 2017.

The Pit Stop will take place 2 March 6pm to 9pm and 3 March 9am to 5.30pm at the Digital Catapult Centre, 101 Euston Road, London.

Dstl media enquiries

Email DstlPress@dstl.gov.uk

Press office 01980 950000 option 2

Published 7 December 2016