Unlocking the full potential of AI adoption

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The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult is accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in UK industry by building a national network of digital and physical facilities to test and validate new solutions.

Just 5% of UK manufacturers use AI in their operations according to Office for National Statistics data from 2023. Across all production and services sectors, 15% of all businesses are estimated to have adopted at least one AI technology.

HVM Catapult is working with organisations including the Alan Turing Institute and National Physical Laboratory to develop a nationwide AI validation network specifically aimed at helping manufacturers become more confident in adopting AI in their businesses.

Harnessing the capabilities of HVM Catapult’s six centres, the AI validation network will accelerate the deployment, validation and uptake of AI by providing third-party assurance to businesses that in-house or off-the-shelf solutions are robust, trustworthy and reliable.

Dr Yazan Qarout, Senior Research Engineer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), one of the six HVM Catapult centres, said:

AI is evolving at an extraordinary pace but adoption is lagging in many key sectors. Why? Because organisations need trust in AI systems before they can deploy them at scale.

“Fragmented efforts across sectors and regions risk duplication, inefficiency and missed opportunities. The UK needs a coordinated response but no single organisation can do it all. That is why we are building a collaborative network that brings together the UK’s existing strengths, from research centres and Catapults to industry leaders.

“This is about unlocking the full potential of AI and positioning the UK as an AI maker — with assurance, transparency and trust at the core.

Partners in the AI validation network: HVM Catapult; TUV SUD; National Physical Laboratory (NPL); Digital Catapult; International Association for the Engineering Modelling, Analysis and Simulation Community (NAFEMS); Alan Turing Institute; GE Vernova.

To find out more and get involved in the AI validation network, click here.