Innovation UK: Frontier AI Discovery (Stage 1)
Notify Faculty of intention to apply by: 8 May 2026
Funder deadline: 10 June 2026
Innovate UK has now opened a call for Phase 1 of a two-stage application process, which aims to build frontier AI research and development consortia programmes to accelerate and deliver novel UK-led AI capabilities.
| A note that proposals are unlikely to be funded unless they include substantive experimental R&D, novel AI and ML development, and promise substantive technical innovation, i.e. this is a scheme for applied rather than doctrinal research. |
Programmes will be aligned with one of the following four missions:
- AI-Enabled Health and Life Sciences: Making the UK the best place to develop and deploy AI across medicines discovery, development and manufacturing, predictive healthcare applications, and clinical trials.
- Advanced Materials with AI: Building a world leading AI-first materials R&D capability spanning aerospace, net zero technologies, defence materials, semiconductors.
- Secure AI for National Security and Defence (NS&D). Enable the UK’s defence sector to become a leading integrator of secure AI-enhanced command and control and AI enabled sensors.
- Fundamental AI: Advancing Foundation Model AI capabilities that can underpin multiple sectors and future applications.
Duration and Value
For Phase 1, Innovate UK is seeking applications that will assess the feasibility of ambitious collaborative R&D proposals and help build consortia. Proposals must capture opportunities aligned with the thematic priorities by developing new‑to‑the‑world AI and ML capabilities.
Eligible costs for phase 1 can be between £25,000 and £50,000 (funded at 80% FEC); projects will last up to 3 months, starting 1 October 2026, and ending by 31 January 2027.
Successful applicants to Phase 1 will be able to apply to the second phase of funding (between £5 million and £10 million), which will be delivered by collaborative consortia.
Internal Process and Deadlines
Oxford departments have been asked to identify one bid that they will lead on.
Please confirm to the Law Faculty via research@law.ox.ac.uk by Friday 8th May if you are interested in leading a bid, to allow for time for internal selection if required.
If you are involved in a collaborative cross-departmental bid led another department your application will not be subject to law internal selection but you are requested to to confirm to the Faculty of your involvement by Friday 15th May.
The Research Services deadline for applications will be Wednesday 3rd June.
Applications must be submitted via Innovate UK's Innovation Funding Service by Wednesday 10 June 2026 11:00am.