New funding to enable researchers from Ghana and wider Africa, India, Brazil and Malaysia to enhance their science with cutting-edge AI.

Imperial’s I-X Centre for AI in Science will launch a new AI in Science Global Fellowship programme. Supported by new funding from Schmidt Sciences, it will assist talented researchers from countries of the Global South to use AI to enhance their scientific research, while also building sustained local capacity at their home institutions.  

Announced at the launch of Imperial Global Ghana - the university’s first science and technology hub in Africa - the programme will support three cohorts of fellows on a two-year programme, enabling colleagues from partner institutions in the Global South to co-locate at I-X, Imperial’s flagship AI initiative, to enhance their expertise in AI.  

The funding, equivalent to 48 years’ of research time, complements $148M previously awarded to partners including the I-X Centre for AI in Science as part of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship programme, which supports postdoctoral fellows in accelerating artificial intelligence research in Engineering, Natural and Mathematical Sciences.   

Driving AI in Science  

The two-year Fellowship programme will include one year spent at Imperial and a subsequent year at the researchers’ home institutions, free from teaching responsibilities; a structure designed to provide awardees with additional time dedicated to developing their research portfolio. Similarly to AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellows, Global Fellows will join a co-located cohort of top scholars based in I-X (White City Deep Tech Campus). The Global Fellows will benefit from working in a collaborative environment and will have an opportunity to contribute to interdisciplinary research conducted by the I-X community.  

During the fellowship, the awardees will benefit from AI skills and career training. The Global Fellows will be recruited from the partner institutions participating in the programme, including:  

• African Institute for Mathematical Sciences  

• Indian Institute of Science   

• National Centre for Biological Sciences, India   

• University of Ghana  

• University of Sao Paulo  

• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.  

All the partner institutions have existing links with Imperial through research projects, seed-funding, and PhD student exchanges. They are all research-intensive institutions with aspirations to be leaders in AI applications. The programme aims to support the partners in realising their strategic ambition and fostering long-term research networks, as well as increasing opportunities for talented Global South researchers to work on AI in Science.  

"Global challenges demand global collaboration, which is why Imperial has been selected by Schmidt Sciences to connect talented researchers from institutions across Africa, India, Brazil and Malaysia with our cutting-edge AI centre in the UK." Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London

Imperial’s President Professor Hugh Brady said: “Global challenges demand global collaboration, which is why Imperial has been selected by Schmidt Sciences to connect talented researchers from institutions across Africa, India, Brazil and Malaysia with our cutting-edge AI centre in the UK.

“Thanks to the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI for Science Programme’s generous funding, this cross-continent initiative will support three cohorts of fellows on a two-year programme, coordinated from Imperial’s I-X Centre for AI in Science, to advance their own research and collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects, and to build research capacity in their home institutions.

“This powerful new fellowship programme strengthens our collaborations with universities in the Global South and reaffirms our commitment to expanding international research and innovation partnerships to address global challenges.”  

Commenting on the impact of the award, Professor Nick Jones, Director of the I-X Centre for AI in Science at Imperial, said: “It is great that Schmidt Sciences has chosen this direction for the programme as it aligns with a clear need: to develop AI for Science problems relevant to the Global South. Beyond offering opportunities to faculty members at our Global South partners this new intake will enrich the skills and perspectives of our current fellows linking them across three continents.” 

Impact on a global scale 

The Global Fellowship initiative builds on the I-X Centre for AI in Science’s track record of collaborating with Global South universities, as well as Imperial’s broader international partnerships and capacity-building programmes. The expansion is part of Imperial’s ambitious new strategy of establishing a network of Global Hubs in strategic locations.  

These Hubs will foster partnerships and develop strong links with local research, industry and civil society stakeholders. The Hubs will act as convening points for the Fellows, and Partner Institutions. As part of the Fellowship programme, Imperial will organise a series of events at the Hubs in Ghana and India focused on AI in Science, reinforcing its commitment to building strong relationships with local partners.   

"We are enthusiastic about strengthening our collaboration with Imperial College London through this new research programme, which will enable our researchers to harness the potential of AI in science while building sustainable research capacity at University of Ghana." Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana

Reflecting on the importance of the programme, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, stated: “We are enthusiastic about strengthening our collaboration with Imperial College London through this new research programme, which will enable our researchers to harness the potential of AI in science while building sustainable research capacity at UG. An important priority in our new research strategy is the focus on Fourth Industrial Revolution tools, including AI, data science and digital transformation. This partnership directly aligns with that vision. Through this initiative, we are prepared to advance our research capabilities and leverage partnerships to mobilise resources in addressing pressing global challenges. We look forward to the mutual benefits this collaboration will bring.”

For President of Universidade de São Paulo, Professor Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior: “This partnership represents a significant milestone for our University and for the advancement of artificial intelligence research in Brazil. USP has already demonstrated its commitment to this field by recently creating the Center for Artificial Intelligence (C4AI), and now, with this international collaboration, we can further expand our global impact. Participation in this program will allow our researchers to develop cutting-edge AI projects, benefiting from Imperial College London's infrastructure and expertise, while contributing their unique perspectives to solve scientific challenges relevant to our region. This is a fundamental step to consolidate USP's position as a leader in AI research and innovation in Latin America.” 

Prof. Abhishek Kumar Singh, Chair of the Office of International Relations at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), said: “The I-X Centre for AI in Science Global Fellowship programme, supported by Schmidt Sciences, provides a unique opportunity to train leading researchers in AI, which has transformative power and will foster innovation faster than ever before.” 

Professor LS Shashidhara, Director of National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), India, stated: “NCBS is excited with this opportunity to expand our capability to use AI for deeper understanding of biological systems. Researchers at NCBS study living systems across scales adopting a variety of methods, including mathematical and computational methods. Developing in-house capacity to apply AI methods will enhance our ability to generate new knowledge. We look forward to working closely with Imperial and all its partners.” 

Professor Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, commented: “Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is honoured to be part of the team for this fellowship. As Malaysia’s leading engineering institution, UTM is committed to driving innovation and excellence in education and research. The establishment of the first Faculty of AI in the country underscores UTM’s dedication to advancing the field of artificial intelligence and preparing the next generation of experts. Being included in this Global Fellowship initiative is not only a testament to UTM’s capabilities but also an opportunity to collaborate with esteemed institutions and researchers worldwide. Through this fellowship, UTM aims to enhance its research capabilities and solidify its position as a key player in the global AI landscape. Collaborating with Imperial and other partner institutions, UTM is excited to embark on this journey, reinforcing its mission to harness AI for societal benefit and contribute to impactful change on a global scale. Together, we can lead the way in shaping the future of AI in science and beyond.”