Oxford and UBS Join Forces to Shape the Future of Applied AI
A major new alliance between one of the world’s top universities and a global financial powerhouse aims to accelerate artificial intelligence innovation with direct commercial application.
The newly launched Oxford–UBS Centre for Applied AI brings together academic research excellence and financial-sector expertise to unlock value in business, economy and society.
The Centre is positioned as a ground-breaking interdisciplinary collaboration between UBS, Oxford Saïd Business School and Oxford’s Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. It will conduct independent and joint research initiatives, enabling scholars and industry practitioners to translate cutting-edge discoveries into deployment at scale.
Dedicated Hub for Applied AI Expertise
Led by a newly endowed UBS Professor for Applied AI, the Centre will be supported by a specialised team of twenty researchers focused on three pillars: AI and society, AI for business and economy, and AI futures. Their work will address governance, sustainability, productivity and emerging AI paradigms with tangible industry relevance.
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, highlighted the significance of the initiative: «It is wonderful to announce this exciting and important partnership that brings together one of the world’s leading universities with a globally leading financial services institution.»
She emphasised that the collaboration will deliver «pioneering new AI research solutions and practical applications at a time of unprecedented technological change».
UBS Aims to Become a Fully AI-Enabled Institution
For UBS, the Centre strengthens its ability to operationalise AI across core business functions. Mike Dargan, UBS Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer, noted: «AI represents a fundamental opportunity to change how we operate and create value for clients.» He added that the partnership will help UBS accelerate its transformation and «shape the future of financial services».
The collaboration leverages Oxford’s leadership in AI research and UBS’s global wealth-management scale. UBS manages 6.9 trillion dollars of invested assets as of the third quarter of 2025 and operates in more than fifty markets worldwide, giving the Centre a powerful platform for real-world impact.
Implications for the Financial Sector
As generative and applied AI continue reshaping institutional operations, this partnership signals rising competition to harness innovation responsibly and profitably.
Initiatives at the Centre will support the development of scalable AI solutions that boost productivity, enhance risk management and unlock new client-focused services – positioning both Oxford and UBS at the frontlines of AI-driven economic transformation.
