THE BIG INTERVIEW A third of people in the UK own at least five
connected devices, and Cambridge Consultants forecasts the number of IoT applications to grow from 13 million in 2016 to 156 million by 2024. But, as David points out, “all that connectivity has a
cyber consequence”. He adds: “Anyone with a digital presence needs to think about it, especially in this pandemic era where there’s more likelihood of things going wrong.” To this end, DMU is positioning itself as one of the
region’s best authorities on all things cyber – and even globally in some respects, with its computer science research ranked joint top in a list of the most frequently cited studies by the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in July last year. Its MSc cyber security and cyber technology courses
– developed with the input of industry experts from companies including Airbus, Deloitte and Rolls-Royce – are fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, while its Cyber Technology Institute is the only East Midlands facility to be recognised as an NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). DMU also works with several large corporations such
as IBM and Coventry Building Society to train digital and technology degree apprenticeship students. Its DMU business support programme offers start-up
and small business advice via the university’s Innovation Centre and there are also opportunities for companies to work with academics via knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs). An example is the collaboration between DMU and
the Chamber – of which the university is an AI and cyber partner – to create a Regional Business Intelligence Unit. The project involves deploying AI and machine learning to analyse a wealth of data about the region, and translating it into improving supply chains, environmental performance and business competitiveness. There’s hopes it will give the East Midlands a more
influential voice to attract public and private investment, but it also illustrates how AI and cyber will “ultimately revolutionise the way we work in Industry 4.0”.
EVERY YEAR, UP to 2,000 students equipped with relevant digital skills will come out of the region’s six universities combined every year, David estimates. While there’s a clear talent supply emerging,
graduate retention remains an issue – and one DMU is working on in an internship scheme alongside the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council. “We have the graduates coming through with cyber
security skills and I think there’s great output from our university in particular,” he adds. “However, it’s not much use to the region if we train
students with the skills and then they all leave for London or other regions. “We’re very mindful that students don’t see the opportunities in Leicester so we need to change those perceptions by showcasing the opportunities from local businesses – because the evidence shows there’s plenty opening up, particularly in technologies such as in AI and cyber.”
De Montfort University is offering a free consultancy service to small businesses in need of expertise in AI and cyber security. Prof David Mba has invited firms to get in touch
if they would benefit from two days’ worth of complimentary one-to-one support on how to utilise data or implement cyber protection.
For more information, email
businessservices@dmu.ac.uk.
30 business network February 2021
REAL-WORLD AI APPLICATIONS
WITH SUPPORT FROM DMU SUPERMARKET PRICING FOR END-OF- SHELF-LIFE GOODS Waitrose and one of its software and IT service providers PCMS collaborated with DMU to explore ways of improving in-store efficiency. Over a six-week period, 17 computer science
and intelligent systems students applied machine learning knowledge to four issues commonly faced by food retailers – managing stock efficiently; avoiding incorrect product selection at the tills and during self-service; flagging customer errors while using the Quick Check service; and creating better prices for products reaching the end of their shelf life.
‘By using data-driven AI and 3D image processing algorithms, the software optimises the cutting strategies and fruit profiles’
Findings were presented to senior managers, and ideas for improvements included applying data mining alongside different modelling techniques to build a dynamic way of assigning new prices on reduced items, while another suggested using a statistical approach for prediction tracking to help with the algorithm used for reducing prices.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE By using AI models to analyse data of pupils who were frequently absent at Willen Primary School, in Milton Keynes, DMU researchers identified patterns that showed Monday morning was the most common time for absenteeism. To improve attendance, which is recognised as closely linked with pupil performance
and outcomes in later life, they suggested offering better and more frequent rewards for full attendance, and introduced fun activities on Monday mornings to give pupils something to look forward to after the weekend. As a result, attendance improved by 55% in the first year and the school achieved the required national average attendance of 96% for the first time in four years.
OPTIMISING BANANA PRODUCTION The OPTIcut programme, developed by a DMU research group, uses computational intelligence – a subset of AI – to minimise waste when cutting banana “hands” into clusters for packing. With cutting currently based on human experience, it generates variable amounts of
fruit waste depending on the strategies used at banana plantations. But by using data-driven AI and 3D image processing algorithms, the software optimises the cutting strategies and fruit profiles – the amount of fruit in each field – tailored to each farm. During studies in Central America, the application of these precision agriculture
techniques has reduced waste levels by between 5% and 10% – thereby maximising profits for the farmers.
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