The University of Portsmouth School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are running LEAP-AI (Local Employer-led AI Professional Practice), funded by Innovate UK. The support is aimed at small and medium-sized employers across the South East who have a business or engineering problem that they'd like to improve, automate or test, but no idea whether AI could help. 

Businesses bring their challenge and the university staff shape a brief with the company; supervised final-year and Master's engineering students build and test a practical response; and the business received a Working Pack with a tested prototype, how to run it, what it costs and where people stay in charge. There is no fee, approved build costs are covered by the project, and the employer's time committment is a few hours in total. 

Student builds start in January 2027, challenges are being sort now.

Click here for more information.