The University of Oxford and UBS join forces to launch the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied AI to pioneer research and innovation

London / Zurich, December 9, 2025 – The University of Oxford and UBS are proud to announce the launch of the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Centre will aim to deepen the understanding of the power of AI through cutting-edge research and promote its practical application.

The Centre aims to be a ground-breaking interdisciplinary partnership involving UBS, Oxford Saïd and the University’s Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences division (MPLS). It will drive independent research projects on AI as well as joint initiatives, in which Centre researchers collaborate closely with UBS practitioners to apply their findings to real-world applications.

The Centre will be led by a newly endowed UBS Professor for Applied AI at Oxford Saïd and will be supported by a dedicated team of 20 researchers. Their research will focus on three key areas:

• AI and Society: including aspects of AI governance, the Future of Work, and sustainability.
• AI for Business and Economy: including applications of AI in driving innovation and transformation across business and economic ecosystems.
• AI Futures: including the exploration of emerging AI paradigms, models developments and their applications.

Welcoming news of the collaboration, Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: “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. This dynamic multidisciplinary partnership will lead to pioneering new AI research solutions and practical applications at a time of unprecedented technological change. We are grateful to UBS for their vision and support, enabling us to launch the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied AI.”

Professor Tracey continued: “This strategic partnership will be unique in its research power as it draws on intellectual capital from the University of Oxford’s business school and our division for scientific research and is generously supported by UBS.”

Mike Dargan, UBS Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer, said: “AI represents a fundamental opportunity to change how we operate and create value for clients. We are delighted that UBS will be partnering with the University of Oxford to foster pioneering AI research and develop practical tools and solutions that can be implemented at scale across our firm, accelerating our journey to become a fully AI-enabled institution and shaping the future of financial services.”

The Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied AI brings together two institutions with deep AI expertise and focus on innovation. The University of Oxford is a world leader in AI research, developing fundamental AI tools, using AI to tackle global challenges, and leading education and research in applied AI for business. As a leading wealth manager, UBS is harnessing the transformative capabilities of AI to deliver better client solutions and increase employee productivity.


UBS Group AG

About UBS
UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. UBS manages 6.9 trillion dollars of invested assets as per third quarter 2025. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

About the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division
The MPLS Division is home to the non-medical sciences at the University of Oxford. Its nine academic departments span the full spectrum of the mathematical, computational, physical, engineering and life sciences, carrying out world-leading research that ranges from fundamental discovery to cutting-edge applied work.

About Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford is a vibrant and innovative business school, embedded within a 900-year-old world leading university. We create programmes and ideas that have global impact and reach. We educate leaders, change makers and innovators across every industry and sector. Our groundbreaking research and exceptional teaching transforms individuals, who transform businesses, which transforms the world. We create impact from within.