Brunel AI Accelerator initiative advances the responsible adoption of AI to drive productivity, innovation, competitiveness and inclusive economic growth. Bringing together research, industry and policy, it connects AI innovation with organisational transformation, responsible governance, and workforce reskilling and upskilling. Its mission is to translate frontier AI research into scalable solutions that strengthen businesses, public services, skills and regional economic resilience.
AI is reshaping productivity, competitiveness and sustainable business growth, yet the ability to adopt and benefit from AI remains uneven, particularly among SMEs. Gaps in expertise, investment, digital capability, skills and responsible governance can constrain innovation, productivity and business resilience, while widening regional disparities. Brunel AI Accelerator initiative addresses this challenge by connecting the University’s research, expertise& talent with businesses, policymakers and regional ecosystems. It supports organisations to adopt and scale AI responsibly, improve productivity and competitiveness, sustain growth and build resilience. It equips graduates and the wider workforce with relevant skills and capabilities to thrive in the age of AI through reskilling and upskilling. By translating research and innovation into practical applications and economic value, the Accelerator contributes to stronger businesses, an adaptable workforce, and inclusive regional growth.
Brunel AI Accelerator initiative takes a distinctive, multidisciplinary approach to AI by connecting technological innovation with business adoption, economic value, responsible governance and workforce transformation. Rather than treating AI as a purely technical challenge, it examines how organisations can translate AI capabilities into productivity, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth, while managing associated risks and inequalities. A particular strength is its integration of research with real-world business and regional challenges, creating a two-way pathway between knowledge and application. The Accelerator also connects AI adoption with reskilling, upskilling and the development of graduates with the capabilities required for an AI-enabled economy. By bringing together researchers, businesses, policymakers and talent, it generates actionable evidence and scalable solutions that can inform organisational practice, regional economic development and AI policy.
Brunel AI Accelerator is an interdisciplinary research, innovation and knowledge-exchange initiative bringing together expertise in AI, business, economics, engineering, computer science, health, design, law and the social sciences. Its ambition is to ensure that AI generates sustainable economic and societal value by connecting research and technological innovation with responsible adoption, business growth, workforce transformation and regional development.
The Accelerator spans AI innovation, responsible AI and governance, AI-enabled business transformation, digital adoption, autonomous systems, human–AI interaction and the future of work. Flagship initiatives include the Innovate UK-funded TechLocal AI Accelerator and the Skills England-supported AI Apprenticeship programme, alongside research into responsible AI, AI risk, governance and organisational adoption. Together, these activities connect cutting-edge research with the development of future AI talent, global leaders and business decision-makers equipped to navigate technological transformation.
A central focus is understanding how organisations can translate AI capability into productivity, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth while managing associated economic, organisational, ethical and societal risks.
The Accelerator has a strong applied focus, working with businesses, particularly SMEs, and regional ecosystems to overcome barriers to AI adoption and growth. It connects Brunel’s research, expertise and talent with industry to develop practical and scalable solutions that strengthen business capability, productivity, resilience and long-term competitiveness, while contributing to inclusive regional economic development.
Recognising the transformation of occupations and skills requirements, the Accelerator supports reskilling and upskilling alongside the development of graduates and business leaders with the capabilities required to thrive in the age of AI. This includes AI-focused education, apprenticeships and professional-development pathways. These are supported by competitive external funding, including Innovate UK, and Skills England. Collectively, these activities provide an integrated platform for research, industry engagement, skills development and policy impact, supporting AI-enabled growth and innovation at regional, national and international levels.
Dr Asieh Tabaghdehi - Dr Asieh Tabaghdehi is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Business Economy, Head of Innovation, AI and Technology Management Research Group, Programme Lead for BSc International Business, and Lead at Brunel's Centre for AI: Social and Digital Innovation at Brunel University of London. She is also an economist and social impact advisor for the independent NGO, Social Innovation Movement, and the Founder and Chair of the Responsible AI and Digital Innovation in SMEs Community of Interest at ISBE.
Asieh is a well-recognised academic in digital transformation, focusing on the strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to advance sustainable business practices, and address critical social and economic challenges. From 2021 to 2022, Asieh co-investigated the Digital Footprint Project, funded by the UK Research Institute (UKRI), that explored the ethical implications of digital footprint data on value creation for SMEs. One of the project outputs was the Digital Business Auditing Framework, which has been adopted internationally for smart city initiatives.
Asieh has attained an international reputation in the field of ethical integration and deployment of AI, particularly in the contexts of smart data governance. Her research integrates industry collaboration, public engagement, and policy dialogue with an emphasis on the social and economic dimensions of responsible smart city development and innovative healthcare systems. Asieh’s contributions have been widely cited in academic, practitioner, and policy outputs, and her research has informed national and international governments and businesses. Her research on connected technology has been presented various time as both oral and written evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee at the request of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and has been featured in national and international press. She is widely published in academic peer-reviewed journals, the press, is a frequent speaker at academic and industry conferences, and has responded to a number of policy inquiries at national and international level. She is also the author of the book Business Strategies and Ethical Challenges in the Digital Ecosystem, which addresses multiple facets of the AI ecosystem, including data ethics, governance, and innovation. In collaboration with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Asieh co-designed the "Digital Adoption" module for the UK Government’s Help to Grow Management program, aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of SMEs.
Asieh is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a member of the ESRC Review College, the British Academy of Management Review College, and the Energy Institute UK. She also serves as an associate practitioner at Social Value International, an associate member of the Big Innovation Centre, and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)- Artificial Intelligence. She is also a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence: Social and Digital Innovation at Brunel University of London. Currently, Asieh serves as the Impact Lead at the Brunel Centre for AI, where she leads the capability area in the Future of Work.
Asieh earned her PhD in Economics and Finance (2008) and MSc in International Money, Finance, and Investment (2015), both from Brunel University London. She joined Brunel in 2020 after holding academic positions at Regent’s University London, where she also served as Director for the BSc Global Management (Finance Pathway). Prior to her academic career, she gained industry experience as a business analyst, further enriching her interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.