AI for Business Accelerator Programme

The programme was designed to help students take their AI for Business skills to the next level in a challenging team competition.

  • The initial masterclass explored how AI is transforming the way businesses operate
  • Hands-on immersive workshops introduced the power & potential of AI in business
  • AI tools were used to identify business problems & develop AI-driven solutions for real-life business cases
  • The winning team will present their AI solution at the European HQ of BMW Motorrad in March 2026
  • Eligibility: The Accelerator is open to KBS and School of Computing final year under-graduates and all postgraduates.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

✅ Foundational understanding of AI’s applications in business

✅ Confidence and skills to work with AI tools in business settings

✅ Stronger employability through innovation experience and portfolio-building

✅ Enhanced ability to critically assess and implement AI strategies for business growth

✅ Networking opportunities with industry professionals and peers

“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for all final year undergraduates and postgraduate students from the Kent Business School and School of Computing who want to further their AI knowledge and skills. The winning team will compete through a series of lab session culminating with presenting their AI solution to BMW Motorrad at their European HQ.”

Thomas Hirschmann, lecturer in Innovation and AI at Kent Business School and CEO of CoreCortex and Behavioural Economy.

Bring your ideas to business

At the end of the masterclass, the winning team will compete through a series of lab session culminating with presenting their AI solution to BMW Motorrad at their European HQ.

Guest speaker


Guest speaker


Guest speaker


Challenge Sponsor


IBM

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The AI Lab Sessions – 4 sessions

The sessions were open to undergraduate and postgraduate students who had completed the KBS AI Academy Masterclass and had been selected following the registration process.

A series of four half-day hands-on interactive workshops followed using the latest digital tools and resources.

Student Outcomes and Impact

✅ Business challenges and use cases were explored to support ideation as a tool of business innovation.

✅ AI applications were assessed to developing critical thinking, assessment protocols and benchmarking techniques.

✅ Multi-disciplinary team working developed collaboration, prioritisation, time-management, presentation and leadership skills.

✅ The ethics, risks and rewards of implementing AI project were assessed building solid foundations in best practice. “

The Advanced AI Lab Sessions

Student teams for the Advanced Session were selected from those who had completed the AI Lab sessions.

The sessions included a series of expert-led hands on interactive workshops and curated digital repository.

Students developed their knowledge and skills by:

  • Working in multi-disciplinary teams on real-world business problems together with major industry partners, Europ Assistance and BMW Motorrad to generate industry-relevant proofs of concept.
  • Developing the ethical frameworks and risk management processes needed to implement the AI project.
  • Understanding the patenting and licensing issues needed for technology transfer of products and services.

The winning team will present their solutions at BMW Motorrad's European headquarters.

About Thomas Hirschmann

Thomas is the CEO and Founder of CoreCortex and Behavioural Economy. He is a passionate entrepreneur with a background in law, economics, and psychology, focusing on data-driven innovation. His most recent venture, CoreCortex, offers AI-powered Innovation-as-a-Service (AI-IaaS) to help businesses unlock their creativity through AI. Hirschmann is also a lecturer in Data Science at Bayswater College London, teaches Innovation & AI at Kent Business School, and has authored several academic publications in creativity and innovation.

Enquiries:  

Please contact Thomas at t.hirschmann@kent.ac.uk