UWE AI Symposium 2027 | Day 1: Accelerating AI Adoption

How can organisations turn AI ambition into practical results?

Join us at UWE Bristol on Thursday, 21 January 2027, from 10:00–16:45 for a day exploring how to accelerate AI adoption across the West of England.

Bringing together business leaders, SMEs, AI practitioners, policymakers, academics and regional stakeholders, the symposium connects organisational needs with implementation experience, research and opportunities for collaboration.

The programme includes expert panels, SME adoption journeys, practical implementation insights and interactive discussion. Explore applications beyond ChatGPT, understand why organisations struggle to move beyond pilots, and consider the leadership, capabilities and funding needed to make progress.

Whether you are exploring your first AI application or developing existing initiatives, join the conversation, exchange experiences and make connections.

Attendance is free. This registration covers Day 1 only.

The symposium continues on Friday, 22 January, with Day 2: AI Adoption – Evidence, Implications and Future Research. You are welcome to attend both days, but separate registration is required for each day.

Info: Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, creating new business opportunities and changing how organisations compete. But what does this transformation mean for businesses across the West of England? This opening keynote explores the potential of AI to strengthen regional productivity, innovation and economic growth. It considers the opportunities facing SMEs, alongside the challenges of accessing expertise, investment and new capabilities. The session sets the scene for a day dedicated to turning AI ambition into practical business action.

Info: AI offers significant opportunities for businesses, yet many SMEs remain uncertain about where to begin. What are the most promising applications, and what prevents organisations from adopting AI successfully? This panel brings together business and ecosystem perspectives to explore adoption readiness, practical barriers and emerging opportunities across the region. Panellists will discuss common challenges involving skills, costs, data, technology and organisational preparedness. The discussion will establish key questions and perspectives that will subsequently be explored directly with SME representatives in the audience.

Info: Now it's time to hear directly from the businesses themselves. Through interactive QR-code surveys and live polling, participants will share where their organisations stand on their AI adoption journeys, what opportunities they see and which barriers prevent them from progressing. Responses will be visualised in real time, creating a collective picture of AI adoption among the businesses attending the symposium. Building on the preceding panel discussion, panellists will remain on stage to explore the results alongside SME representatives, challenge assumptions and discuss emerging priorities. The session will conclude by identifying the forms of expertise, investment and support businesses consider most valuable for advancing their AI adoption.

Info: AI is moving beyond conversational assistants into intelligent tools that can analyse information, automate tasks and support business decisions. But what does this look like in practice? Through a live demonstration, participants will see how AI can help transform business data into interactive dashboards, actionable insights and more effective workflows. The session will highlight practical applications that do not necessarily require large IT budgets or extensive technical expertise. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what modern AI tools can offer their organisations today.

Info: How does a business move from being curious about AI to identifying opportunities worth pursuing? Three SMEs that participated in UWE's AI Bootcamp will share their experiences of exploring AI adoption within their organisations. Their stories will illustrate how businesses identified challenges, evaluated potential applications and progressed towards prototypes or implementation plans. Participants will hear about the discoveries, difficulties and practical lessons encountered along the way. These experiences offer relatable insights for business leaders wondering how to begin their own AI journey.

Info: Building an AI prototype is one thing; making it work reliably within a real business is another. Drawing on practical implementation experience, this session explores what happens when AI solutions move from promising concepts into everyday operations. Through real project examples, the speaker will discuss challenges involving business requirements, system integration, data quality, security and user adoption. Particular attention will be given to the decisions, unexpected difficulties and lessons that shape implementation outcomes. Participants will gain valuable insights into how businesses can approach AI projects more effectively and avoid common mistakes.

Info: Creating an AI agent or launching a pilot has become increasingly accessible, but scaling AI across an organisation presents a different set of challenges. Why do promising AI projects struggle when they encounter existing systems, complex workflows and organisational realities? This panel explores the gap between technical experimentation and sustainable business implementation. Experts will examine what it takes to integrate AI into everyday operations, establish reliability and oversight, redesign workflows and achieve measurable business value. The discussion will challenge conventional assumptions about AI adoption and explore how SMEs can move beyond isolated experiments towards lasting operational improvements.

Info: Successful AI transformation requires more than introducing new technology; it demands leadership, strategic direction and a willingness to rethink how organisations operate. How can business leaders identify the right opportunities, establish priorities and prepare their people for AI-enabled ways of working? This session introduces the DATA³ framework—Diagnose, Architect and Transform—as a structured approach to navigating the AI implementation journey. It explores the leadership decisions, organisational capabilities and change management practices needed to turn AI opportunities into sustainable business value. Participants will gain a practical perspective on how to lead AI transformation rather than simply manage individual technology projects.

Info: For many SMEs, the challenge is not simply identifying promising AI opportunities, but finding the resources and support needed to pursue them. What government initiatives, regional programmes and innovation support mechanisms could help businesses adopt AI? This session brings together insights into relevant funding opportunities, business support services and initiatives supporting digital transformation and workforce development. Speakers will explore how businesses can identify suitable programmes, understand eligibility requirements and access available expertise. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and discover potential routes towards financing and supporting their AI adoption journey.

Info: The most valuable outcomes of a conference often begin with the conversations that follow its presentations. This interactive networking session brings together SME leaders, AI practitioners, researchers and support organisations to explore opportunities for collaboration. Businesses will be encouraged to share practical challenges, discuss potential AI applications and connect with people who may help them take the next step. Whether participants are exploring their first AI project, seeking implementation expertise or looking for suitable partnerships, the exchange provides an opportunity to turn ideas into meaningful connections. The session aims to encourage relationships and collaborative initiatives that continue beyond the symposium.

Info: The symposium concludes by reflecting on the opportunities, challenges and practical lessons explored throughout the day. Key themes from the discussions will help highlight shared priorities for accelerating AI adoption across the West of England. Participants will be encouraged to consider the next steps for their own organisations and the connections they have established. The closing session will also highlight potential opportunities for continued learning, engagement and collaboration. The ambition is to ensure that the conversations started at the symposium contribute to meaningful AI adoption beyond the event.

Event venue & nearby stays

UWE Bristol – Frenchay Campus, X Block (Bristol Business School), Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, United Kingdom

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