UK launches two AI research labs with £60m investment
The UK government has announced a £60 million investment in two new artificial intelligence research laboratories designed to develop next-generation AI systems and strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in the field.
The two UK AI research labs will be led by University College London and University of Oxford, working alongside partners including University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London.
One of the labs will focus on developing open-source AI systems capable of running on widely available hardware, while the second will explore new approaches that allow AI to learn without requiring vast centralised computing resources.
Funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the laboratories will investigate new ways to rethink how AI works, how it learns, and how it can be made more open, efficient and useful for the UK.
The initiative is also intended to strengthen collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector, helping translate fundamental research advances into practical applications.
According to the government, the research could have implications across a range of sectors, including healthcare, education, public services, science, advanced industry and small businesses. The programme will also focus on areas where the UK has an opportunity to establish international leadership, including AI systems that operate across different types of data and environments, and technologies that improve collaboration between people and AI.
Both labs will include dedicated support for entrepreneurship and spin-out activity, with the aim of accelerating the commercialisation of research outcomes.
The investment is expected to support the development of future generations of AI technologies within the UK’s universities, promote open-source alternatives built on accessible infrastructure, and reduce dependence on large technology providers and remote data-centre resources.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: “We are only just beginning to unlock AI’s huge potential to grow our economy and improve our public services. With our world-leading universities and deep pool of AI expertise, Britain can set the agenda for what comes next.
“These new labs will lead the world in the fundamental work that is set to make AI cheaper, more practical and easier to adopt so more businesses and public services across the UK can benefit. And by building this capability here at home, backed by our world leading universities, we’re strengthening our own expertise, reducing reliance on others and securing Britain’s place at the forefront of this technology – fittingly announced on what would have been Alan Turing’s 114th birthday.”
Charlotte Deane, Senior Responsible Owner for the UK Research and Innovation AI Programme and Executive Chair of EPSRC, added: “The UK is already one of the world’s leading nations in AI research. We are one of the few countries in the world with all the right ingredients, from a deep pool of top AI experts to world-class universities.
“These labs will put that advantage to work, backing the bold, high-reward ideas that can shape the future of AI. We look forward to working with the labs to maximise the benefits for the UK.”