Welcome to the March edition of the APRIL AI Hub newsletter!
AI is transforming the development process across industries, especially in device design, semiconductor manufacturing, and electronics. In Pillar 2, we are leveraging AI’s potential to accelerate design iterations that will help optimize product performance and reduce time to market.
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Examples of this approach which will increasingly become mainstream include AI-driven device simulations for predictive modelling as a replacement of traditional physics-based models, or AI driven parameter extraction for the development of compact models, or indeed even simply to speed up TCAD simulations in a quest fora better device and process design space.
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Professor Merlyne De Souza
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This month we were lucky enough to receive a visit from our Pillar 5 lead researchers, Vihar Georgiev and Rishad Shafik. The day consisted of identifying and selecting innovative projects, ensuring a broad impact across their research themes. This selection process required a thorough evaluation of the current technological landscape and identification of areas where significant contributions can be made.
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Pillar 5 APRIL team day in Edinburgh
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Discussion also centered on the necessary tools and data resources required to effectively carry out these projects, encompassing both the acquisition of new datasets and the development or procurement of advanced computational tools and methodologies. This gathering not only reinforced the commitment of the APRIL Pillar 5 team to cutting-edge research but also set a clear roadmap for future collaborative efforts and scholarly contributions. We look forward to future opportunities for the APRIL team to meet up!
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APRIL director, Themis Prodromakis attended AI UK 2025, the UK’s two-day national showcase of data science and AI held at the Alan Turing Institute. The event was packed with over 150 brilliant speakers from across academia, industry, government and more. Themis was thrilled to take the stage in an esteemed panel to discuss the implications of AI on the environment and how emerging technologies can help towards more sustainable AI.
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The Environmental Implications of AI Panel at AI UK 2025
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Themis commented: ‘The big question: Who holds the responsibility for sustainable AI? Is it the innovators creating the technology, or the users implementing it? This thought-provoking dialogue explored accountability, ethical design, technological capability and collaborative solutions, and everyone agreed in the end that both innovators and users must work together to ensure AI advancements benefit both people and the planet.’
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Join our Lunch and Learns!
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Join us online every fortnight for our Friday Lunch and Learn sessions which are hosted by a different guest speaker who will share insights into exciting and emerging areas of research in Electronics and Artificial Intelligence.
28/03/25 - Dr Atish Dixit presenting ‘How Can We Use the State-of-the-Art AI for Materials Discovery in Electronics?
11/04/25 - Dr Cristian Sestito presenting ‘Towards Energy-Efficient Convolutional Neural Networks using Systolic Arrays’
25/04/25 - James Stix presenting ‘Navigating Adoption and Sensemaking of AI in Organisations’
Read more about each session and sign up on our Eventbrite.
Or sign up to be invited to all future sessions here.
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Co-Director, Professor Dame Wendy Hall, on BBC Newsnight
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Professor Dame Wendy Hall on BBC Newsnight
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On 12th March, APRIL AI Hub Co-Director, Professor Dame Wendy Hall, joined the BBC Newsnight panel to share her take on the UK Government’s plans to use AI to modernise the Civil Service. We enjoyed hearing the inspiring and thoughtful comments on the topic of ‘Could AI replace my job?’. Wendy noted, 'AI should be doing what AI is good at. People should be doing what people are good at.’
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AI Hub in Generative Models Launch
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This month Pillar 5 Research Fellow, Dr. Santhosh Sivasubramani, represented the APRIL AI Hub at the launch of the Gen AI Hub, held at the Francis Crick Institute in London.
Here’s what Santhosh had to say:
‘Reflecting on an enriching day at the Francis Crick Institute, I was thrilled by the remarkable synergy of expertise and innovation showcased throughout. The discussions highlighted the seamless integration of cutting-edge research with the transformative capabilities of artificial intelligence across diverse fields, including biology, healthcare, and beyond.
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Santhosh presenting the APRIL AI Hub
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Each session showcased innovative approaches to tackling complex challenges, laying the foundation for future advancements. The exploration of generative AI in molecular biology demonstrated how AI is revolutionizing the analysis of intricate biological systems. Equally compelling were the insights into healthcare, where AI is enhancing diagnostics and fostering patient-centered innovations with the potential to redefine care delivery. A standout moment was the session on the UK Government’s practical applications of AI. These experiences provided valuable insights that I am eager to bring back to the UKRI April AI Hub, particularly in the field of AI for electronics.’
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The APRIL team welcomes it’s newest member, Dr. Pratibha Verma, who is joining us as a Research Associate in Pillar 5. Pratibha has just finished her PhD in Integrated Electronics Circuits at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Her doctoral research focused on the design of interface circuitry for hybrid vibrational energy harvesters, with an emphasis on enhancing the efficiency and power of the harvesting system. Pratibha’s research interests include analog circuit design, power management circuit design, and the integration of AI techniques with circuit design. In her free time, Pratibha enjoys reading spiritual and historical books and exploring the world to find the meaning of life.
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Converge Microfinancing for Entrepreneurship 2025
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Congratulations to our Pillar 5 Research Associate, Dr. Santhosh Sivasubramani, for securing an award from the Converge Microfinancing Entrepreneurship call for 2025! Converge works in close partnership with Scotland’s universities to support staff, students and recent graduates to transform their ideas into thriving sustainable businesses. The funding will be used to initiate the software development phase, purchase initial IoT sensors for the pilot program, and cover initial legal costs for company registration and compliance activities.
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