David Crozier CBE appointed Director of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), a key initiative aimed at boosting AI adoption across Northern Ireland's economy.
David Crozier, a distinguished technology leader with over 25 years of experience, has been appointed Director of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC). The AICC, a multi-million-pound initiative based at Ulster University's Belfast and Derry~Londonderry campuses, in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, aims to drive AI adoption in Northern Ireland's businesses and generate high-value jobs in the sector.
Launched in March 2024 with a £16.3 million investment from Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for the Economy, the AICC seeks to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence for the benefit of Northern Ireland's economy.
"As an alumnus of Ulster University, I'm thrilled to return as Director of the AI Collaboration Centre," said Crozier. "We'll accelerate AI adoption across Northern Ireland's key industries and cultivate essential talent. The AICC will forge strong links between academia and industry, driving competitiveness, generating high-value jobs, and establishing our region as a beacon of AI-accelerated innovation. I'm eager to collaborate with partners at Queen's University Belfast, Invest NI, and the Department for the Economy to ensure the Centre's positive economic impact resonates throughout Northern Ireland and beyond."
Crozier, who was awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year's Honours List for services to the economy, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as CEO of Software NI, the representative body for Northern Ireland's £1.7 billion software industry, where he oversaw a significant membership growth and the launch of a software strategy for Northern Ireland, aiming for 50,000 jobs and £5 billion in GVA by 2035.
He also held senior roles at Queen's University Belfast's Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and has served as Deputy Director of its Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) programme. Crozier was appointed to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) College of Experts in 2021 and has held various leadership positions in the cybersecurity and technology sectors.
The AICC, with a team of 25 staff, will promote AI adoption across all industries, including logistics, finance, life sciences, manufacturing, and Agri-Tech. The centre will deliver 390 postgraduate AI qualifications and train thousands of workers across Northern Ireland through classroom-based and online skills training.
Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Ulster University, expressed her enthusiasm for Crozier's appointment: "We are delighted to welcome David Crozier as Director of the AICC, which works to increase AI adoption in business settings and develop new qualifications to secure the AI workforce of the future. Davidâs experience and connections in the technology sector, particularly across industry, education, and academia will be invaluable in helping us achieve these goals and we look forward to working with David and in continued partnership with Queenâs University Belfast to ensure local businesses are supported to transform in line with the rate of AI development."
The AICC is set to play a pivotal role in Northern Ireland's journey towards a more AI-driven economy, fostering innovation and economic growth for years to come.
