Transformative sustainable AI technologies

Open UKRI funding opportunity · Grant. Closes 2026-11-10. Total fund £12.05 million. Opportunity page: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/transformative-sustainable-ai-technologies/

Apply for funding for projects focused on speculative and high-risk research with the potential to deliver high rewards and a step change in the sustainability of future AI systems.

Projects should consider technological innovations across the AI stack.

You must be:

- based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding

- in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £602,500. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

Projects must start on 1 February 2027 and last for up to 24 months.

What we're looking for Aim

This funding opportunity is delivered under the flagship UKRI IS8 AI Programme. Funding for this opportunity is subject to full business case approval. It is hoped to be the first in a broader programme of activities designed to ensure the UK is at the forefront of ensuring future AI systems are sustainable by design. The opportunity utilises the same approach as the parallel Next Generation AI pilot focusing support on speculative and high-risk research with the potential to deliver high reward.

Artificial intelligence is transforming research, industry and public services at an unprecedented pace. Yet the rapid growth in the computational requirements of AI is increasing energy demand, resource consumption and environmental impacts. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable AI systems that minimise these costs while maintaining performance and societal benefit.

Inherently more sustainable hardware, algorithms, software and system design, could all be examples of routes to improved efficiency. Such advances in sustainable AI could strengthen national resilience, reduce costs and unlock new economic opportunities for the UK.

We are investing up to £10 million over…