When Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in January that Culham Science Centre would become the UK’s first AI Growth Zone, it raised an interesting question for those of us already working here: what does this mean for businesses like ours that are already using AI in meaningful ways?
That question sparked something brilliant.
From Announcement to Action
For companies already based at Culham Innovation Centre and the surrounding Oxford Innovation sites, the announcement felt like both an opportunity and a question mark. How could existing businesses get involved?
Wendy Tindsley, Senior Innovation Director at Oxford Innovation Space, brought people together to talk. We’ve been involved since the beginning, and it feels like a natural extension of the work we started years ago with IoT Oxford, the first IoT meetup group beyond IoT London.
The AI Roundtable Takes Shape
What started as a small gathering has evolved into something genuinely valuable. The AI Roundtable rotates through three Oxford Innovation Space centres – Culham, Harwell, and Grassroots in Oxford – bringing together businesses from across the spectrum of AI engagement.
There’s no formal agenda. No PowerPoint presentations. Just open, honest discussion between people navigating the AI landscape from different angles. There’s even a WhatsApp group for ongoing discussions between meetings.
The diversity of perspectives is what makes it work. Walk into a meeting and you’ll find sceptics questioning the hype, deep tech specialists working in fusion energy, business practitioners using AI as part of their business models, and curious explorers trying to understand how AI can be controlled and governed within their business.
How We’re Using AI at Rufilla
For us, AI isn’t abstract; it’s about practical integration into the products we build. We’re particularly focused on local AI and machine learning integration within devices themselves, giving smart products staggering built-in intelligence on low-cost platforms without needing to access external AI models over the internet.
This approach to embedded AI means devices can make intelligent decisions locally, respond faster, protect user privacy, and work reliably even without connectivity. We’re actively exploring open-source AI models and working on what’s next: local AI integrated smart devices that bring intelligence to the edge.
Our work in embedded systems, IoT, and smart product development increasingly intersects with these AI capabilities. Being part of roundtable discussions keeps us connected to how other businesses are navigating similar questions, which makes us better partners to our clients.
Looking Forward
The AI Roundtable continues to evolve. As more businesses join, conversations deepen from “what is AI?” to “how do we implement AI responsibly?” and “what does this mean for our industry?”
If you’re in the Oxford area and working with AI, or thinking about it, the roundtable is worth joining. Reach out to Oxford Innovation Space or ask Wendy Tindsley about upcoming sessions.
Building Smart Products
At Rufilla, we’ve been at the forefront of smart product development since 2009, helping clients bring innovative ideas to life across energy systems, medical devices, industrial IoT, and beyond.
Whether it’s embedded Linux platforms, IoT connectivity, hardware design, or complete product development from concept to manufacturing, we focus on building solutions that work in the real world. AI is increasingly part of that landscape, but it’s just one tool among many.
Being part of conversations like the AI Roundtable helps us understand where technology is heading, which makes us better partners to our clients.
If you’re developing smart products or exploring how to bring innovative ideas to market, we’d be happy to talk. The best projects start with conversations.
Get in touch to discuss your smart product ideas.