Liverpool City Region has signed an agreement with the German city of Hamburg to develop a “trans-European AI supercluster.”
The agreement, signed between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Hamburg’s Artificial Intelligence Centre (ARIC), includes an intention to share best practice on the development and adoption of Quantum Technologies and to strengthen practical collaboration between the two regions.
The AI MoU was signed by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and ARIC CEO Alois Krtil and forms part of a wider partnership between Hamburg and Liverpool, building on past reciprocal visits and exchanges including Hamburg’s invitation for Liverpool City Region to be the official port partner of its 837th Hafengeburtstag – the world’s largest annual port festival.
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Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, said: “Liverpool City Region has a proud history of global trade and innovation, and this agreement with Hamburg strengthens our ability to shape the future, especially in AI and deep tech.
“With the Combined Authority appointing the UK’s first regional chief AI officer, we’re putting the right leadership in place to turn ambition into action – opening new opportunities for our businesses, researchers and communities, and supporting responsible innovation that delivers real benefits.”
Alois Krtil, chief executive of ARIC, added: “This MoU is a clear signal of our shared ambition to turn cutting-edge research and capability in AI and quantum technologies into practical application. By connecting our networks and expertise, we can help innovators in both regions develop solutions that are trustworthy, responsible and internationally competitive.”
The AI MoU signing was also by representatives from the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University’s Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies Research Institute and the STFC’s Hartree Centre at Daresbury plus deep tech companies from the City Region who are currently in Hamburg on a high-level trade and insights mission to foster and develop cross-border innovation and technical collaboration with their local counterparts.
Private-sector companies in attendance included logistics company Log Chain as well as tech firms such as Sum Vivas Ltd, Talentport, Complete Software Services and Ocuwell.
Image: LCR
