On Tuesday 2 September, we were invited to an intimate evening reception in Westminster, hosted by UKAI with special guest Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. We were delighted to be joined by our colleagues from West of England Combined Authority and NCC.
We were proud to represent the region by showcasing Isambard-AI, the UK’s fastest supercomputer and a national resource for cutting-edge, responsible AI research. As part of the UK’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) alongside DAWN at Cambridge, Isambard-AI is now open to SMEs across the UK looking to develop innovative AI solutions.
The event was also a significant moment for national leadership as it marked Darren Jones MP’s first public appearance as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. His remarks reflected a clear commitment to empowering regional innovation through policy, funding, and infrastructure that supports both ethical and high-impact AI. As MP for Bristol North West, it was a proud moment for our city and its growing role in shaping the UK’s digital future.
We also valued the insights shared by Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, UKAI Adviser and long-standing supporter of the region’s tech sector, whose contributions helped ground the evening in shared purpose and vision.
BriCS believe that AI innovation will be driven by community as well as compute, this event reminded us of the power of focused dialogue in shaping meaningful change.
Our thanks to UKAI, for the kind invitation and their continuing work connecting government with regional innovation; Darren Jones MP, for his time and leadership at this milestone event; Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, for her continued warmth and support; Tim Flagg and Ben Howlett, for hosting, and encouraging further conversation around future collaboration.