New AI centre appoints director

New AI centre appoints director

THE new Essex Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (, the first to be established by TWI Ltd and the University of Essex, has appointed Dr Panagiotis (Panos) Chatzakos as the Centre’s Director. aims to develop a financially sustainable research facility for artificial intelligence (AI), one of the hottest research topics globally, drawing on the University’s existing strengths to complement and underpin the applied research and development activities of TWI.

Panos’ strong academic background and vast practical experience in data science, robotic technology and systems integration will help realise the Centre’s mission to build adaptable and autonomous systems that are deployable across different industries and help people and machines perform smarter, faster and more safely.

Panos holds a Mechanical Engineering Diploma, a Master’s degree and a PhD, all from the National Technical University of Athens, under the guidance of Professor Evangelos Papadopoulos, an MIT alumnus and Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  He has collaborated extensively with industry on applied research, recruiting and managing teams of scientists and engineers that have developed and delivered over 70 joint research projects with hundreds of SME companies, major end-users, research organisations and universities across Europe.

Panos’ research and work are recognised globally, with his science publications and industrial designs having received several prizes and awards for excellence internationally, including the Industrial Robot Highly Commended Award in 2005, the Emerald Literati Network Excellence Award in 2007, the British Institute of Non-destructive Testing Prize in 2012, and the Manufacturing & Advanced Technology, Made in the UK Award in 2012.  In 2016, he was named one of the ’40 under 40 Entrepreneurs of the year’ by Fortune Greece for the achievements of the robotics company he founded in late 2009 and eventually sold in 2016.

Panos said “My goal is to go beyond advanced information processing and enable the physical functions that AI can now manage to put AI into practice.  This includes the development of actual hardware that is differentiated by advanced software, such as mechatronic systems where sensing and actuation are closely coupled with cognitive systems, to deliver improved control, motion, interaction, adaptation and learning.  I am delighted to have this opportunity and would like to thank the University of Essex for placing their trust and confidence in my abilities to assume the role of Centre Director.”