Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp at UKAIRS 2026

Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November 2026, Edinburgh

Applications are open for a 1.5-day bootcamp that helps AI researchers turn a research result into a venture, a partnership or a funded impact project. It runs immediately after the UK AI Research Symposium (UKAIRS, 24 to 25 November) in the same city. The bootcamp is delivered by the UCL Centre for Digital Innovation and funded by Responsible AI UK.

Travel, accommodation and food are covered up to a total of £500 per participant, including up to two nights in Edinburgh.

Who should apply

The bootcamp is open to researchers, PhD students and early career researchers working in any area of AI, including those applying AI in science, engineering, health and the humanities. No business background or existing venture idea is required. You may apply as an individual; teams are formed on the first morning. Places are limited to around 40 to 60 participants.

What you will do

The programme alternates short talks with longer, mentor-guided team sessions. Over the two days you will:

work in a cross-disciplinary team to identify the real-world problem your research can solve
hear from founders and researchers who have taken their own work from the lab to market
receive guidance on intellectual property, spin-outs, funding routes and responsible AI
develop and test a short plan for your innovation with support from academic and industry mentors
pitch your idea to a panel of industry, investor and funder representatives

Dates and times

Thursday 26 November

09:00 to 17:30
Registration from 09:00, then a full day of talks and team sessions, closing with drinks and informal mentoring

Friday 27 November

09:00 to 13:00
Pitch coaching, team pitches to the panel, award of the Bootcamp Prize, then lunch and departures
Prize and follow-on support

The strongest pitch wins a £5,000 prize. The winning team will also receive continued support from the UCL Centre for Digital Innovation to develop a proof of concept after the event. All participants receive a certificate of participation.

Travel and subsistence

Responsible AI UK will cover the costs of attending up to a total of £500 per participant. This covers train travel, accommodation and food, and can include up to two nights' accommodation in Edinburgh. Cost should not be a barrier to taking part, and we particularly encourage applications from early career researchers who would otherwise be unable to stay on after UKAIRS.