Canadian AI firm launches UK HQ in Leeds
A Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) start-up has announced that its new UK headquarters will be in Leeds.
Scaled Insights EMEA, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) start-up incubated in Toronto by IMC Business Architecture, has been developing links with the city for some time having collaborated with the University of Leeds to develop Scaled Insights’ Artificial Intelligence. It will employ 12 people by the end of this year and be based at the new University of Leeds Nexus campus.
The University of Leeds team helped perfect the neural net-based algorithms that underpin SI’s core technology. This has resulted in a signed agreement with Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust to co-create studies that will unlock insights to improve patient care both locally and internationally.
Scaled Insights is working with Health Education England and the University of Leeds’ Institute of Medical Education, using big data to understand how to offer better training to medical students. The announcement comes at a time of momentum for the firm following its win of Best AI Start Up at the Annual Global AI Awards in London in December 2018.
Stuart Sherman, CEO of IMC BA and Founder of Scaled Insights, said: “’I’m delighted to announce the formation of our UK company. It’s been great to get to know Leeds and experience the warm Yorkshire welcome. It’s clear that Leeds is enjoying significant growth, particularly in Fintech and Medtech, which is a testament to the city’s ambitions.
“We looked at a number of locations across the UK and chose Leeds. We are excited about the digital, data and creative strengths of the Leeds City Region. Having collaborated extensively with several faculties and leading researchers at the University of Leeds, we are delighted to broaden our research and development activities in partnership with them and the Research and Innovation Centre at the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust.”
Roger Marsh, Chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “It’s great to welcome Scaled Insights to Leeds City Region. Innovation runs in our DNA, particularly in healthcare resulting in our region being home to the UK’s largest medtech cluster. I’m delighted that the collaboration with the University of Leeds will use data to improve people’s health and support positive behaviour change and I look forward to seeing the company grow.”
Leeds City Region is a significant centre for healthcare. It is home to one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals, four NHS headquarters, 30 centres specialising in personalised medicine and is a leading centre for patient records management. The region’s digital sector contributes £6.5bn to the City Region economy and employs 102,000 people.
