The University of Warwick is one of five universities announced today, Wednesday 28^th January, by the Rt. Hon. Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, as leaders of the prestigious new Alan Turing Institute.

The Institute will build on the UK's existing academic strengths and help position the country as a world leader in the analysis and application of big data and algorithm research. Its headquarters will be based at the British Library at the centre of London’s Knowledge Quarter.

 Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said:

“Alan Turing’s genius played a pivotal role in cracking the codes that helped us win the Second World War. It is therefore only right that our country’s top universities are chosen to lead this new institute named in his honour.

“Headed by the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, Warwick and UCL - the Alan Turing Institute will attract the best data scientists and mathematicians from the UK and across the globe to break new boundaries in how we use big data in a fast moving, competitive world.”

One of the University of Warwick researchers who will be central to the research undertaken by the Alan Turing Institute is Professor Mark Girolami, Professor of Statistics in the University of Warwick's Department of Statistics . He says:

“The Alan Turing Institute is a hugely exciting development for the mathematical and statistical sciences in the UK and it will have a massive impact on my own research work. For example the results of recent research of my group now forms the technology that most Automated Teller Machines (ATM) employ in the detection of counterfeit currency. Now with the ability of these machines to obtain even more types of data the possibilities that Big Data presents to provide further services and safeguards to individual users of ATMs is amazing. But the exploitation of this new so called Big Data requires the development of new cutting edge mathematics and statistical methods to ensure we make the most of these opportunities. The ATI is going to enable my own group to work on these sorts of problems and take theory to algorithms to economically valuable products and services."

The delivery of the Institute is being coordinated by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which invests in research and postgraduate training across the UK. The Institute is being funded over five years with £42 million from the UK government. The selected university partners will contribute further funding. In addition, the Institute will seek to partner with other business and government bodies.

Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC’s Chief Executive said: “The Alan Turing Institute will draw on the best of the best academic talent in the country. It will use the power of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyze Big Data in many ways, including the ability to improve online security. Big Data is going to play a central role in how we run our industries, businesses and services. Economies that invest in research are more likely to be strong and resilient; the Alan Turing Institute will help us be both.”

Notes for Editors:

The Alan Turing Institute

The Alan Turing Institute will promote the development and use of advanced mathematics, computer science, algorithms and big data for human benefit. It will conduct first class research and development in an environment that brings together theory and practical application.

The Institute will be located in London and will bring together leaders in advanced mathematics and computing science from the five lead universities and other partners. Its work is expected to encompass a wide range of scientific disciplines and be relevant to a wide range of business sectors.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and physical sciences. EPSRC invests around £800m a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK.

For further information please contact:

(To reach Professor Mark Girolami at the University of Warwick)
Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy, University of Warwick, email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell: +44 (0)7767 655860

or

EPSRC Press Office on 01793 444 404 or email pressoffice@epsrc.ac.uk

PR15 PJD 28th January 2015