AI’s future in business and company projects explored at event
The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business was discussed at an event held at the University of Bradford.
The AI Forum, organised by the University’s department of Business Analytics, Circular Economy and Entrepreneurship (BACE) at the School of Management, brought together academics and businesspeople from Bradford district firms.
The third-annual event showcased new ideas on AI in business and included panel discussions on AI for social, economic and environmental sustainability. Data privacy and security in AI and ensuring diversity and inclusivity in AI development were explored.
Professor Tillal Eldabi, Head of BACE at the University’s School of Management, said: “The success of this year’s AI Forum reflects our ongoing commitment to bridging academic expertise with real-world business challenges.
“We aim to use this platform as a catalyst for greater access to AI for businesses looking to innovate and grow.”
Dr Takao Maruyama, Assistant Professor in Business Analytics at the University’s School of Management and AI Forum organiser, said: “This event is a good example of University and business integration.
“We had more SMEs [Small and Medium-sized Enterprises] from the Bradford district join us for this year’s AI Forum than in the two previous events. Our aim is to support businesspeople in Bradford with using AI. We can do something great together.
“The forum helps to build on the University being at the forefront of AI.”
Back row, from left: Tim Gambrill, Gavin Mander and Dr Kamran Mahroof, Programme Leader for MSc Applied AI and Data Analytics at the University of Bradford, front, from left: Dr Tillal Eldabi, Head of BACE at the University of Bradford’s School of Management, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Director of Data and AI at Yorkshire Building Society, and Adam Cockburn, Chief Architect and University of Bradford Alumni. Images credit: Kiran Mehta @ KM Images
Who were the guest speakers?
Topics under discussion by the panels included how can AI help SMEs compete and perform and how a digital and data consultancy has worked with some of the University’s Masters students to help SMEs develop their AI ready data capabilities.
Keynote speaker was data science and automation expert, Mark Barrett. Other speakers included Rebecca Fitzgerald, Director of Data and AI at Yorkshire Building Society, and Vice-President for Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Dr Sarah Ashbridge, defence analyst and an Associate Researcher of the Climate Change and Security Project at the University of Oxford; Tim Gambrill, Co-founder of Mighty Atoms and Muhamed Farooque, Founder and CEO of consulting firm, Excelledia.
Joshi Madivada, Senior Associate Global Academic Program Manager at SAS; Andrew Fraser, AI Lead on Subnordica, a project investigating the archaeology of marine palaeolandscapes; Adam Cockburn, Chief Architect and University of Bradford Alumni, and Gavin Mander, Founder and Director of a digital and data consultancy also contributed.
The University of Bradford’s guest speakers were Professor Ciprian Daniel Neagu, Professor of Computing, and Professor Hassan Ugail, Director of the Centre for Visual Computing and Intelligent Systems.
Mohamed Elrefaey, a third year Finance and Business Analytics student, participated in the Bradford Business Challenge; 5) Students displayed their research work at the Bradford Business Challenge poster presentation. Images credit: Kiran Mehta @ KM Images
Student showcase
Final year students from the University of Bradford’s School of Management showcased their research projects at the Bradford Business Challenge Poster Conference, celebrating innovative student-led solutions to real-world business challenges.
More than 50 posters were exhibited, featuring work from students studying Marketing, Business and Management, Finance and Business Analytics, and International Business and Management. Each project was commissioned by local businesses and organisations as part of the Bradford Business Challenge initiative.
Students tackled topics including a proposed funding strategy to help breast cancer survivors access post-surgery nipple tattoos, developed in collaboration with a local independent tattoo studio and a targeted marketing campaign to grow the fanbase of Bradford City AFC and attract new sponsorship.
Mohamed Elrefaey, a BSc Finance and Business Analytics student, who presented his research on student attitudes toward post-Covid learning, said: “Post-Covid learning has changed. People are more used to digitised tools to learn with, such as AI.”
Dr Amizan Omar, Final Year Project Module Leader, praised the quality and relevance of this year’s work: “This year, 59 real projects were commissioned through the Bradford Business Challenge. These are not just academic exercises — they are meaningful, impactful engagements that address real needs for our business partners.”
Students work under the guidance of an academic supervisor, while the partnering organisation provides a project sponsor to support and mentor the student team throughout.
If you represent a business, public body, or third-sector organisation and are interested in partnering with the School of Management through a future Bradford Business Challenge project, email bace@bradford.ac.uk
From left, Dr Irfan Mehmood, Associate Professor specialising in Business Data Analytics at the University of Bradford, Mark Barrett, Professor Hassan Ugail, Director of the Centre for Visual Computing and Intelligent Systems at the University of Bradford, Muhamed Farooque, Business Performance Management and Strategy Specialist, and Professor Ciprian Daniel Neagu, Professor of Computing at the University of Bradford. Images credit: Kiran Mehta @ KM Images