Chairs Brief: Issue 06

Over the past few months I’ve used these newsletters to introduce the AI Growth Alliance, explain why it was created and how the working groups are helping to shape it.

This month marks an important milestone.

From 20–24 July, the AI Growth Alliance will be launched at its public debut at the Farnborough International Airshow.

This isn’t simply about exhibiting at one of the world’s leading aerospace and technology events. It’s about demonstrating that our region has a coherent ambition for AI, one built on collaboration between business, academia, government and the public sector.

The conversations we’ve been having over the past year about skills, infrastructure, responsible AI and regional collaboration are now becoming visible beyond our own network.

Launching at Farnborough gives us the opportunity to tell that story to a national and international audience.

It also comes at a fascinating moment for AI more generally.

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen major reports published about the UK’s next wave of AI growth, new Government initiatives designed to attract AI investment and talent, and an increasingly visible public debate about the opportunities and risks that AI presents.

Taken together, these developments reinforce why the AI Growth Alliance exists.

Our role is to help ensure that our region doesn’t simply respond to the AI revolution. We help shape it.

The AI Growth Alliance (AIGA) is a regional coordination partnership that brings together business, education, government and civil society to accelerate responsible, inclusive and practical AI adoption across Hampshire, the Solent and the wider South Central region.

We exist to enable, not to own. We connect rather than duplicate, translate ambition into action, support collaboration across sectors, and represent our region with clarity and credibility.

Our role is to create the conditions for success by building confidence, capability, coordination and trust. Our goal is to help organisations of every size harness AI responsibly while ensuring the benefits are shared as widely as possible.

I've been fortunate enough to attend the Farnborough International Airshow on several occasions over the years. Each visit has reinforced just how unique the event is.

Unless you've experienced it first-hand, it's difficult to appreciate its scale. Farnborough is a global meeting place for government, industry, investors, academia and the media. Artificial intelligence is now central to many of the sectors it represents, making it the ideal place to launch AIGA.

I'm delighted that Farnborough International has agreed to become a Strategic Partner of AIGA. The partnership provides an opportunity to present the South Central region not simply as a collection of excellent organisations, but as a coordinated AI ecosystem with national relevance and international connections.

The AI Growth Alliance will officially launch on Thursday 23 July as part of the Farnborough International Airshow.

The morning begins with networking from 9.00am, followed by a dedicated press and media session at 9.15am, before the formal launch commences at 9.30am.

I’m delighted that the event will be opened by Paul Oxley, Director General (Skills) at ADS, the trade association that owns the Farnborough International Airshow and represents more than 2,000 companies across the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

I’ll then introduce the AI Growth Alliance, explaining why it was established, what we’ve achieved so far, and the opportunity we believe exists for Hampshire, the Solent and the wider South Central region to become one of the UK’s leading AI ecosystems.

My keynote will focus on three central themes.

First, that our region already possesses many of the foundations needed to lead. Decades of innovation across aerospace, defence, maritime, telecommunications and advanced engineering have created an exceptional concentration of expertise. That capability is further strengthened by internationally recognised universities, with strengths spanning Web Science, applied AI, medicine, robotics, autonomy, space technologies and many other disciplines.

Second, that we should be ambitious. The UK is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, and our region should be confident in making the case for nationally significant investment. We have the skills, industrial capability, collaborative culture and opportunities to demonstrate how AI can accelerate productivity, strengthen public services and drive sustainable economic growth.

Finally, I’ll describe how the AI Growth Alliance can help create a model for regional AI development that is transferable beyond our own geography. By building on our experience of creating technology-enabled services, developing thriving communities, and supporting key industries such as maritime, defence, advanced manufacturing and the creative industries, we have the opportunity to develop an approach that other UK regions, and ultimately other countries, can adapt to their own circumstances.

Following the keynote, I’m pleased to introduce contributions from our strategic partners, including Councillor Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Brian Johnson, Chair of Solent Freeport and Maritime Solent, whose support demonstrates the breadth of collaboration already taking shape across the region.

The launch will also introduce AIGA’s new AI Leadership & Skills Strategy, together with perspectives on ethics and inclusion, reinforcing our belief that successful AI adoption depends not only on technology, but also on leadership, skills, trust and collaboration.

Although the official launch takes place in July, AIGA is already delivering tangible progress.

• Established a cross-sector Steering Group.
• Created four active working groups: Leadership and Skills, Infrastructure and Investment, Ethics and Inclusion, Ecosystem Development
• Developed the AI Leadership & Skills Strategy.
• Secured Farnborough International as a Strategic Partner.
• Brought together universities, business, local authorities and the public sector around a shared regional vision.
• Helped coordinate practical AI initiatives, skills activity and regional collaboration.

The launch marks the beginning of AIGA's public journey, not the beginning of its work!

This year's launch coincides with several significant developments:

• Tech Nation's 'The Next Wave of UK AI' report highlights the UK's next phase of AI growth.
• Government has announced a new AI Concierge Service and visa initiatives to help high-growth AI businesses attract global talent.
• The Economist has highlighted the growing public backlash against AI, reminding us that trust and responsible adoption matter as much as technology.

Together, these developments reinforce why AIGA exists.

This launch has only been possible because of the commitment of our Steering Group, Working Groups, Hampshire County Council, Farnborough International, ADS and many volunteers.

A particular thank you goes to Dr Priti Tyagi, whose careful coordination of requirements, logistics and risk has helped turn an ambitious vision into a reality.

We have requested a limited allocation of tickets for the AIGA launch on 23 July. If you would like to attend, please email me to register your interest. Ticket numbers are limited and cannot be guaranteed.

Families can also attend Farnborough's Pioneers of Tomorrow Day on Friday 24 July. Tickets are free for children and are available via:
https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/pioneers-of-tomorrow/tickets/

Farnborough is not the destination, it is the starting point. Over the coming months we'll continue building partnerships, supporting AI adoption, developing skills and strengthening the region's AI ecosystem.

AI for Growth. Growth for All.