Background
Recent government policy has focused on the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) for the future of the UK’s economy and society. In January 2025, the UK Government published the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The Action Plan set out the government’s intention to create a number of AI Growth Zones across the UK to boost the country’s domestic compute portfolio by establishing AI data centres that will also act as innovation hubs and drive local rejuvenation, channeling investment into areas with existing energy capacity such as post-industrial towns. The UK’s first AI Growth Zone was established in Culham, Oxfordshire in January 2025, followed by a second in North East England in September 2025.
The publication of the Industrial Strategy, in June 2025, further underlined the government’s commitment to AI, which is a core component of the Sector Plan for Digital and Technologies. The Industrial Strategy also focuses on the importance of place, with a range of policy initiatives and funds designed to deliver economic growth in priority sectors across the UK. In addition, the new NHS 10-Year Plan pledges to make the NHS the “most AI-enabled care system in the world”.
Report
Yorkshire Universities (YU) has undertaken a mapping exercise to document AI capacities and capabilities of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Yorkshire. The outcomes of this exercise have helped to illustrate the breadth and depth of AI capacity across the teaching, research and innovation functions of YU member institutions. The mapping also demonstrates how the collective strengths and specialisms of the region’s HE sector can support policy partners in implementing Local Growth Plans by driving innovation within and across Yorkshire’s high-growth sectors, clusters, businesses, entrepreneurs, and public sector organisations.
Commenting on the AI mapping report, Dr Peter O’Brien said:
“It is clear that our member institutions are adapting to a rapidly evolving skills landscape by embedding artificial intelligence into their teaching provision and investing in research and innovation to ensure the responsible and effective adoption of this technology across the region in addressing complex, real-world opportunities and challenges.”
The report is available in full here: Read and download the document.
Yorkshire Universities (YU) is a registered charity representing eleven universities and one specialist higher education institution in Yorkshire. Members: Leeds Arts University; Leeds Conservatoire; Leeds Beckett University; Leeds Trinity University; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Bradford; University of Huddersfield; University of Hull; University of Leeds; University of Sheffield; University of York; and York St John University.
