Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute launched at Aston University
A new institute has been launched at Aston University. The Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute has been established to accelerate technological innovation by bridging the gap between academic research and industry application. Funded by The Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust the Institute will look to transform cutting-edge concepts into real-world solutions, advancing technology at pace.
The Digital Futures Institute builds on the existing successful partnership between Aston University and Rigby Group’s international technology business, SCC which has already produced significant work in medical and patient care applications and the use of AI to fight cybercrime.
Located in Birmingham's Knowledge Quarter, the Digital Futures Institute will also contribute to the economic revitalisation of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
At the launch, Sir Peter Rigby highlighted the importance of academia-industry collaboration:
“We stand at the threshold of a new era with the launch of the Digital Futures Institute.
"Reflecting on my professional journey, which began right here in Birmingham, building a large international technology business from the ground up has instilled in me a deep appreciation for innovation and of the communities we serve. It is in this vibrant city that I learned the value of perseverance and the impact of technology on society. This institute is not only a testament of our shared history but also a beacon of our potential future."
Sir Peter added: "This endeavour is deeply personal to me. It represents a confluence of my life’s work and my aspirations for our community. The partnership between my principal business, SCC, and Aston University is a manifestation of our collective commitment to harness digital technology for the betterment of society. This is exemplified by work conducted to date in medical and patient care applications and, for example, in the application of AI to fighting cyber crime."
"Having built my business in this city, I am particularly passionate about the role this Institute will play in driving economic growth and revitalising Birmingham and the West Midlands. We are setting the stage to transform our region into a global hub of technology and innovation."
The Digital Futures Institute will foster AI and data analytics to enhance profitability and productivity in both the business and public sectors and offer efficient service provision in a wide range of areas, for example health and social care, manufacturing, education, transport, etc. We will also leverage generative AI and bespoke Large Language Models for enhanced customer experiences and automatic asset generation eg diagnostic, financial, and investigation reports, amongst others.
