National law firm VWV’s Bristol headquarters has helped longstanding client the University of Bristol create its new state-of-the-art national artificial intelligence (AI) research centre, including securing £225m of government investment.
Called Isambard-AI, it will be 10 times more powerful than the UK’s current fastest supercomputer and among the most powerful in the world when it opens this summer. 
VWV assembled a team of specialists led by partners Stephanie Rickard and James Barr and including experts from its higher education sector group to address a number of legal and regulatory matters linked to the project.
The close collaboration between VWV and the university team meant it delivered what was a strategically important and time critical project within a tight schedule.
VWV, which has extensive expertise in guiding multi-million pound IT outsourcing and systems infrastructure projects, including in higher education, said its longstanding partnership with the university ensured seamless integration into the project team, facilitating informed decision-making.
The firm provided comprehensive expertise on procurement, grant funding, supply chain management for delivery of the facility, as well as legal, charity, governance, and regulatory matters crucial for the university’s hosting.
Stephanie, pictured, who leads VWV’s procurement & subsidy control team in Bristol, said: “We were delighted to work with the university on this significant and exciting project.
“It was a challenging project given the number and complexity of the legal issues involved and critical pathways. It was truly a team effort to get it over the line.”
Isambard-AI, which will be based at the National Composite Centre on the Bristol & Bath Science Part, will enable researchers to harness the power of AI in emerging technologies and in accelerating research in areas such as automated drug discovery and climate research.
VWV has 90 partners and employs 500-plus staff across its Bristol headquarters and offices in London, Watford and Birmingham.
