London Gains New AI Researchโ Hub with Imperial College & Thomson Reuters Partnership
LONDON – Imperial College London and Thomsonโค Reuters have launched a new artificial intelligence research laboratory,โค aiming to accelerate the translation of AI breakthroughs into real-world applications and bolster the UK’s position in the global AI landscape. The โขcollaboration, announced today, will โฃfocus on areas including agentic systems,โข reasoningโข algorithms, and the ethical implications โof AI, notably within the legal sector.
The โinitiative arrives as โthe UK government signals increased investment in โAI, with Chancellor Rachel reeves recently unveiling a ยฃ1.5 billion โขAutumn Budget package dedicated to skillsโ development and digital apprenticeships. This partnership seeks to capitalize on thatโข momentum, fostering innovation, high-skilled job creation, and university โขspinouts – positioning london asโค aโฃ potential global leaderโข in AI innovation.
The lab will be โคco-directed by Professor Alessandra russo of Imperial College, who stated, “Our collaboration with Thomson Reuters anchors โresearchโ in practical โคuse cases,โ ensuringโค breakthroughs translate intoโฃ societal benefit. There is huge potential toโ unlock creative โขapproaches across industries, โฃstrengthening โsocietyโค and energising the economy.” Research will encompass the broader economic and workforce impacts โคofโ AI, alongside specific applications in legal technology.
Professor Felix Steffek of Cambridge University willโฃ contribute expertise to the lab’s focus on ethical and safe AI design. Theโ lab’s activities โwill includeโ joint seminars, visiting researcher programs, and the openโ publication of research findings, supported by multi-year funding and โฃa dedicated PhD cohort.
The partnership underscores a growing โคnational strategy โขto compete on both AI talent and technology, with the potentialโข to drive economic growth and establish the UK as a key player in the rapidlyโ evolving field of artificial intelligence.

