Transformative sustainable AI technologies
Funding
Up to £602,500
Deadline
10 November 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 10 November 2026
Overview
This UKRI opportunity funds speculative, high-risk research that could bring a step change in the sustainability of future AI systems. Projects should look at technological innovations across the AI stack. Examples include energy efficient algorithms, architectures and software, smaller task specific models, novel hardware and software co-design, and hardware that is easier to repair or disassemble. It suits research groups and individuals based at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding. Research technical professionals, including research software engineers, are welcome to lead or co-lead. The full economic cost of your project can be up to £602,500, and UKRI will fund 80% of that. This is a maximum, not a target. Projects must start on 1 February 2027 and last for up to 24 months. The grant can cover salary contributions for project leads and co-leads, research, technical and project management staff, consumables including compute costs, travel, data sharing and dissemination, and estates and indirect costs. It will not cover PhD studentship costs or single items of equipment worth over £25,000. The opportunity is open now and closes on 10 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. One practical point to plan for: applications must be technology-led. UKRI will not fund projects that are mostly non-technical research, such as purely social science, legal, policy or ethical studies. You can be involved in no more than two applications, and only one of those can be as project lead. Funding is also subject to full business case approval. Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/transformative-sustainable-ai-technologies/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Projects must start on 1 February 2027 and last up to 24 months
- UKRI funds 80% of the full economic cost, up to a full economic cost of £602,500
- Applications must be technology-led; majority non-technical research will not be funded
- No more than two applications per person, and only one as project lead
- No PhD studentship costs or single equipment items over £25,000
- Funding is subject to full business case approval
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding, in a role that meets UKRI's individual eligibility rules. Research groups and individuals can apply. International researchers can only take part as project co-lead (international) under specific UKRI agreements; other international collaborators should join as project partners. You can be involved in no more than two applications, and only one as project lead. UKRI will not accept uninvited resubmissions.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
Researchers and research technical professionals at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding who have a bold, high-risk idea for making future AI systems more sustainable.
Regions
No published award history for UKRI. Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from UKRI
Apply for funding for projects focused on speculative and high-risk research with the potential to deliver a step change in the sustainability of future AI systems.You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation funding.
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. The project lead selects 'Start application' on the UKRI page, confirms they are the lead and signs in or creates an account. Answer the questions online, then send the application to your research office to check. Your research office submits it to UKRI by 10 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.
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Create free accountLast updated: 15 October 2026