Infuse Collision Space
Public services are currently under significant pressure. Over a decade of budget cuts, coupled with the need to deal with new challenges such as the far-reaching impact of climate and the cost-of-living crisis, has led to a huge increase in demand for services. For the 10 local authorities and other public bodies that make up the Cardiff Capital Region the case for doing things radically differently is clear – but they can’t go it alone. The challenges of our time require new types of collaboration, and structured space to innovate.
The challenge: How can we use AI to transform public services for all?
The service/policy areas: Housing and Homelessness, Social Care, Education and Employment
The Infuse Collision SpaceÂ
AI is advancing rapidly, and public services have a time-limited opportunity to harness it to reimagine public services by improving outcomes, increasing productivity, and supporting the workforce rather than being overtaken by change.
The Infuse Collision Space, delivered in partnership with PPL, a social impact consultancy, aims to bring together the brightest minds from across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors to tackle the wicked challenges of our times. We aim to give people the skills, tools and the space they need to create ambitious change and collaborate across the region.
Through a structured innovation process, participants will be supported to form cross-sector innovation experimentation teams, explore a defined problem and develop and test ideas that aim to address it. For example, this could lead to:
- Fewer people reaching crisis point
- Improved/increased access to high quality services
- £millions achieved in efficiencies to be redeployed to meet emerging complex need
Participants will have access to a range of expertise to support them on their journeys, from subject matter experts and analysts, to coaching and facilitation support. They will come together both in-person and virtually across four different phases: Explore, Build, Test, Evaluate/Pitch.
The journey will run over Spring/Summer 2026 and will culminate in an opportunity to pitch for a share of £500,000 in funding and support to sustain and scale ideas with potential.
By creating the collision space our ambition is to build on the first iteration of Infuse to:
- Draw on the significant knowledge and expertise of those closest to issues
- Develop the skills and capabilities of people to innovate
- Create space for meaningful cross-sector collaboration that leads to significant outcomes, both societal and economic.
- Create innovative services for the future.