Enterprise, Partnerships & Innovation in Modelling, Data, and AI

Overview

The Enterprise, Partnerships & Innovation (EPI) specialist area within the Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI (ZI) provides a gateway for businesses and public sector organisations to access Swansea University’s research expertise in modelling, simulation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

This platform connects industry leaders and alumni with academic experts to address technical challenges, co-develop innovative solutions, and apply cutting-edge research to real-world problems. Whether through joint research projects, consultancy, or student engagement, EPI enables impactful collaboration that drives business value and societal benefit.

The specialist area also provides ZI staff with visibility for their enterprise activities and facilitates new pathways to partner with external stakeholders through regional and national innovation scheme.

Collaboration opportunities span ZI’s core themes, allowing partners to tap into interdisciplinary expertise in modelling, simulation, and data. Example themes include:
• Systems and Process Optimisation
Enhancing the performance and sustainability of physical, digital, and operational systems through modelling, control, and optimisation methods.
• Predictive Modelling and Simulation
Developing physics-informed and data-driven models to understand, forecast, and improve the behaviour of complex systems.
• Digital Twins and Smart Systems
Creating real-time digital representations of assets or processes that support monitoring, diagnosis, and decision-making.
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Applying advanced algorithms to detect patterns, automate analysis, and support intelligent system behaviour.
• Data Analytics and Visualisation
Building tailored pipelines and interfaces that turn complex or large-scale data into insight for research, operations, or strategic planning.

ZI researchers engage with businesses through funded programmes such as:
• ASTUTE 2020+ (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing)
• Analysis for Innovators (A4I)
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
• Innovate UK, EPSRC and Horizon Europe schemes
• Specialist Consultancy and Problem Solving

Opportunities to work with students and graduates include:
• Final-year undergraduate research projects
• MEng Group Design Projects
• MSc by Research dissertations in modelling, data and AI
• Industry-sponsored PhDs

These interactions provide access to emerging talent and enable companies to explore early-stage innovation with academic mentorship.

Our Facilities

Key Enabling Technologies:

• ZI partners benefit from access to advanced infrastructure, laboratories, and digital capabilities, including: • High-Performance Computing (HPC clusters and cloud-based environments) • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) platforms • Multi-physics and multi-scale simulation toolkits • Machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, etc.) • Data engineering, cleaning, and integration pipelines • Real-time sensor data analysis and edge computing • Digital twin infrastructure for manufacturing and asset monitoring • Smart manufacturing labs via ASTUTE collaboration • Interactive visual analytics and dashboard development • Secure environments for handling sensitive or proprietary data • Optimisation and uncertainty quantification libraries • Mathematical modelling, algorithm development, and custom tool design.

Specialist Area Leads

• Dr Daniele Doneddu Practitioner in Enterprise and Innovation, d.doneddu@swansea.ac.uk;
• Dr Fawzi Belblidia Technical Director, ASTUTE 2020, f.belblidia@swansea.ac.uk

Events