20 July 2026 - The Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy (MCTD) joins forces with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) to help businesses navigate the AI transition and build momentum around better approaches to AI.
MCTD produces rigorous, evidence-based research on the most pressing challenges in AI and digital technology governance. It joins CISL at a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping economies, industries and institutions - and when businesses need trusted guidance to navigate that transition.
Their partnership is backed by a new three-year, £3 million gift from the Minderoo Foundation to continue MCTD’s interdisciplinary research to inform policymaking, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve the governance of AI and digital technologies.
The move combines MCTD's world-leading research and policy influence with CISL's global network of business leaders, policymakers and practitioners. MCTD's interdisciplinary team brings expertise spanning technology governance, democracy, public policy, business, economics and the societal impacts of emerging technologies. Together, their combined strengths will help organisations and decisionmakers understand and respond to the opportunities and challenges of increasingly AI-powered economies and societies.
Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy, said:
"Working with CISL brings another avenue for us to translate research into impact. Together, we can help ensure that AI and other emerging technologies deliver benefits for people, society and the planet."
Lindsay Hooper, Chief Executive of CISL, said:
“Gina and her colleagues at MCTD have a huge track record of impact and leading the conversation on technology’s effects on governance. We’re excited to see what they can do when they are able to draw on CISL’s global business networks and expertise in driving change.”
Looking ahead
The move lays the foundations for new work connecting responsible AI, business leadership and economic transformation. Bringing together CISL's convening power, business networks and policy influence with MCTD's expertise in technology governance creates opportunities to help organisations understand, anticipate and respond to the profound changes AI is bringing to economies, industries and society. This work will contribute to CISL's wider efforts to help shape the market conditions needed for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient economy.
We look forward to announcing new initiatives on transitions to sustainable AI economies in the near future. Until then, MCTD welcomes new connections: get in touch via minderoo@cisl.cam.ac.uk