A new centre in Telford will be funded with 400,000 to advance artificial intelligence in manufacturing, agricultural technology, and engineering, equipped with high-spec IT gear, AI workstations, immersive learning pods, edge computing servers, and VR/AR devices.

Harper Adams University has secured 500,000 in funding to enhance AI and engineering education and research through the EdTech Innovation Hub.

The Office for Students official underscored the funding’s broader impact on widening access to facilities, supporting key subjects, and boosting local, regional, and national economies.

The Telford centre will be located at the Quad in Telford town centre, while the Edgmond campus lab continues to play a central role in engineering teaching and simulation-based product testing.

The funding will establish the Centre for AI in Manufacturing, Agri-Tech, and Engineering Skills (AI:MATES) at the Quad in Telford in collaboration with European Innovation, and it will expand the university’s Collaborative Simulation Laboratory at the Edgmond campus.

New equipment under the initiative includes AI workstations, immersive learning pods, edge computing servers, and VR/AR devices to strengthen AI education and testing capabilities.

The funding is part of a national allocation from England’s Office for Students, supporting around 60 universities and colleges.

The existing Collaborative Simulation Laboratory remains central to engineering teaching and research, using advanced simulation to test and refine products before building physical versions.

University leaders say the funding will deliver high-quality AI learning that is accessible to the local community.

Harper Adams’ leadership emphasizes the program’s community relevance and broad access to AI education across urban and rural areas.

AI:MATES will offer remote-access AI labs and cloud-based environments to reach rural and underserved communities, expanding access to AI education.

The remaining 100,000 will be used at the Edgmond campus to develop the Collaborative Simulation Laboratory for advanced product testing through simulation before production.

The initiative aims to help learners acquire employer-demanded AI skills and enables businesses to visualize and test products using virtual technologies before physical prototyping.