SoftBank Robotics backs SKC Studios to target Middle East with AI innovation

28 Oct, 2025
Tony Quested
SoftBank Robotics has joined forces with Cambridge Cluster avatar pioneer SKC Studios to target opportunities in the lucrative Middle East market with unique AI innovation.
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Simon Wisdom, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, EMEA at SoftBank Robotics. Courtesy – SoftBank.

SoftBank Robotics, whose Japanese parent company owns Cambridge superchip superstar Arm, is already a globally established player with over 70 robot models among a total of more than 40,000 already used in 70+ countries worldwide.

SKC Studios has developed an Alan Turing avatar for Bletchley Park in memory of his wartime code-cracking heroics and is being sought for other major projects. It already has a Dubai office as well as a presence in South America as a launchpad to the US.

The SoftBank-SKC collaboration focuses on pioneering customer engagement and operational efficiency solutions in a rapidly evolving Middle Eastern market renowned for its early adoption of advanced AI technologies.

SKC Studios, headquartered at The EpiCentre in Haverhill, recently scooped the chief AI Innovation prize in the Business Weekly Awards and has since added the Alan Turing AI Innovator Award.

The company is in active conversations with a broad range of organisations across healthcare, culture and enterprise sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Significant expansion is underway and there are opportunities for new investors and collaborators to hitch their wagons to a fast-moving caravan.

Simon Wisdom, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, EMEA at SoftBank Robotics, captures the prevailing mood. He said: “We are proud to partner with SKC Studios, a company whose vision and creativity mirror our own. The Middle East has established itself as a centre for ambitious innovation and together we aim to demonstrate how AI and robotics can work in harmony to enhance real‑world outcomes.

“SKC’s award‑winning AI avatars align perfectly with our mission to transform experiences through disruptive, smarter, more intuitive technology.”

Babita Devi, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of SKC Studios, added: “This partnership reflects SKC Studios’ commitment to bold innovation and responsible AI leadership. We believe in challenging conventions and setting new standards for how technology can serve people and industry with integrity.

“By staying true to our vision of building ethical, emotionally intelligent AI that creates real-world impact, we are driving the next wave of enterprise transformation. We welcome organisations and investors who share our passion for positive change to connect and join us in shaping the future.”

The SKC Studios flagship platform, 1956 Individuals, delivers lifelike, multilingual, and ethically designed AI experiences that embody the company’s belief in 'AI with heart.' Built on a foundation of transparency and trust, every innovation is created to strengthen human connection through technology.

Fast building a global reputation, SKC Studios is transforming healthcare and cultural sectors through its award-winning 1956 Individuals platform.

Besides the much-vaunted Turing project, the technology is also being developed for the Modality Partnership, an award-winning GP super-partnership serving over 12 million citizens to enhance the NHS ‘digital front door.’

This partnership seeks to improve patient access by connecting every front-door interaction to appropriate care pathways, freeing clinicians to focus on delivering quality care.

Beyond healthcare, 1956 Individuals is making a mark at iconic heritage destinations – not just Bletchley Park – but also Leeds Castle, where AI Queen Eleanor is bringing history to life through a conversational AI avatar. Other projects are forming an orderly queue.

As SKC Studios prepares for its next phase of growth, it is actively inviting interest from external investors and partners who want to drive the global adoption of advanced, responsible AI solutions and unlock fresh value in the digital era. For investment opportunities or further information regarding the core technology, email Babita Devi - Email: Babita@SKCStudios.uk.