Web Science Institute announces funding for innovative knowledge exchange projects
The Web Science Institute (WSI) has announced funding for five standout knowledge exchange projects, as part of its Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) allocation.
This year’s WSI funding call attracted significant interest, resulting in a highly competitive selection process. The WSI received proposals that exceeded its funding allocation by threefold.
The Knowledge Exchange Fund, supported by HEIF, is designed to support or undertake knowledge exchange activity with business, industry, and external partners, that increases business engagement, boosts local economic growth and encourages entrepreneurship.
WSI is proud to support the following collaborations:
AI City Innovation Sandpit, led by Dr Richard Gomer. “AI might be transformative for the processes that civic organisations use to build the places that we live. But how? Many of those organisations lack the skills and resources to explore AI’s potential. We’re linking up civic actors with University of Southampton AI expertise to ideate, prototype and explore how AI might support a more liveable, sustainable, and inclusive city.”
From Concept to Clinic: Empowering Stakeholders and Exploring Perspectives on AI for Mental Health Integration, led by Dr Emma Palmer-Cooper. “This project will bring together patient representatives, care providers and researchers to address challenges in mental health care through AI-integrated digital solutions. We will work with stakeholders to educate and upskill them on AI in mental health, and develop the foundation for safe, effective and policy-relevant AI adoption in mental health services.”
Deepfakes and Society, led by Dr Jennifer Williams. “This project will support the UK’s mission to upskill public stakeholders with an awareness campaign for digital media literacy surrounding deepfake capabilities. Together with a range of external partners, we will generate a series of educational videos and also translate research evidence to inform on how deepfake victims from different social groups are perceived and affected with recommendations on how to mitigate these societal inequalities.”
AI Technologies for Improved Response Processes and Domestic Abuse Victim Support & Outcomes – led by Katerina Porter. “Following a successful pilot, where AI technology was used to support interventions by professionals in their responses to domestic abuse in Southampton, we are pleased to continue our work as we aim to develop an improved algorithm for suggesting case-specific actions for high-risk domestic abuse cases.”
AI Arts Festival 2026 – led by AI@Southampton. Following the success of the previous two years, the AI Arts Festival returns, and promises to be an engaging event, open to the public, featuring a wealth of Southampton research, knowledge and entertainment all of which showcases the range and depth of AI excellence at the University.
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