New Coalition Launches to Leverage AI for Industrial Decarbonisation in the UK

A groundbreaking initiative has been launched in the UK, uniting manufacturers, startups, and research organisations to advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving industrial decarbonisation. The newly established Industrial Decarbonisation AI Coalition (IDAIC) aims to combine resources and expertise to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable industrial sector.

Tackling the Decarbonisation Challenge with AI

The urgency of the coalition’s mission is underscored by recent data: in 2022, global decarbonisation rates reached just 2.5%, far short of the 17.2% annual reduction needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. By fostering collaboration and cutting-edge research, the IDAIC seeks to create and implement AI-driven tools capable of addressing these critical challenges and propelling industries toward more sustainable practices.

Founding Members and Vision

The IDAIC is spearheaded by Nexus Climate and Cleantech for UK, with an impressive roster of founding members that includes:

• Innovate UK Business Connect
• Make UK
• The World Cement Association
• Liberty Steel
• IDRIC (Industrial Decarbonisation Research & Innovation Centre)
• The International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (UNESCO)
• Carbon Re
• A3&Co

Initially, the coalition will focus on integrating AI into industrial processing and materials discovery. This will involve raising awareness, fostering education, and identifying key opportunities for AI deployment within the sector.

Expert Insights and Industry Leadership

Sherif Elsayed-Ali, co-founder of Nexus Climate, emphasized the UK’s unique position to lead the global charge in AI for industrial decarbonisation:
“The UK boasts world-class materials and engineering research capabilities alongside a thriving AI and machine learning ecosystem. This combination positions us to pioneer innovation in this field and drive global change.”

Sarah Mackintosh, Director of Cleantech for UK, highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving these goals:
“The partnership between industry leaders and AI experts through IDAIC will be instrumental in accelerating sustainable practices. We are eager to witness the innovative breakthroughs this coalition will foster.”

Chris Pilgrim, Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK Business Connect, pointed to the growing adoption of AI across industries:
“AI’s potential is vast, yet its role in industrial decarbonisation remains untapped. The IDAIC aims to bridge this gap and deliver tangible solutions for the sectors that need them most.”

Faye Skelton, Head of Policy at Make UK, emphasized the coalition’s role in making AI accessible for manufacturers of all sizes:
“AI holds transformative potential for decarbonising industrial processes. However, many manufacturers perceive AI as technology suited only for large-scale operations. The IDAIC is dedicated to breaking down these barriers and ensuring accessibility for all.”

Join the Movement

The IDAIC invites manufacturers, industrial producers, startups, and research organisations working at the intersection of AI and industrial sustainability to join its mission. For membership inquiries or further information, contact info@idaic.org.

This coalition represents a bold step forward in leveraging technology to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: decarbonising industry for a sustainable future.

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Nexus Climate is a platform company for climate innovation. Spearheaded out of London and Dubai, our mission is to leverage expertise, networks, and capital to catalyse climate technology concepts to become breakthrough businesses. We work with startups, corporates, and governments to help enable and scale low carbon technologies and solutions in the UK, Europe, and MENA.

Cleantech for UK is a coalition of company builders and investors spanning the innovation lifecycle from company formation to initial public offering (IPO) and beyond. Our mission is to engage with the government to empower UK cleantech innovators to become homegrown employers, spearheading a global clean industrial revolution.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and easy to navigate.

The World Cement Association

The World Cement Association, founded in 2016, is the largest independent organisation that works globally on behalf of the cement and clinker industry and its stakeholders. We are a not-for-profit company incorporated under UK law, owned, and controlled by our members. The majority of our members are cement producers, ranging from the world’s largest companies, with capacities of 540mt pa, to some of the smallest, with capacities of 0.5mt pa. We also represent companies across the wider value chain, including specialist engineering firms, equipment suppliers and technology providers.

The Industrial Decarbonisation Research & Innovation Centre (IDRIC)

The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) is a focal point for green transformation in the UK’s industrial heartlands. Our research and innovation programme, funded by UKRI has demonstrably accelerated and de-risked solutions for industrial decarbonisation across the UK. Collaborating with research organisations, industry, government, policymakers, NGOs, trade organisations and the public, IDRIC co-creates whole-system multidisciplinary solutions that are accelerating the green futures of our industries.

The International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence under the Auspices of UNESCO (IRCAI) is a dedicated scientific network committed to “bridging both artificial intelligence and sustainable development.” We aim to ensure, by any available means (be it research, policy, or technology), that the public is the main beneficiary of our actions. We have built an international and inclusive environment where collaboration is encouraged, and learning is shared freely. With a particular focus on equity, inclusion, and diversity, we have developed insights, frameworks, and tools to help both us and the broader AI community create AI that represents the diversity and development concerns of people across the world. As the center is under the auspices of UNESCO, we consistently strive to ensure that ethics are at the forefront of our work as we represent the values of the United Nations.

Carbon Re is an Industrial AI company on a mission to reduce carbon emissions by gigatonnes every year through the use of AI technology. A joint spin-out of Cambridge University and UCL, it is focusing on decarbonising cement and other foundational materials (such as steel and glass) which are responsible for more than 20% of global emissions. Carbon Re uses machine learning to optimise fuel use and quality in cement production.

A³&Co.®

We are on a mission of evolving the way of producing Green Cement by unlocking the cement industry’s full investment potential through our results-oriented approach. With a focus on Operational Excellence, Digital Maturity, and Sustainability, we deliver high-impact solutions tailored to the specific needs of today and tomorrow’s cement industry.

At A³&Co.^®, we are committed to turning the vision of “Bringing Future Cement Plant into a Reality” Through collaborative partnerships, we aim to revolutionize the industry, drive innovation, and create a sustainable Green Built Environment future.