Transformative sustainable AI technologies

Transformative sustainable AI technologies is a UKRI funding opportunity supporting speculative, high-risk research with potential to deliver a step change in the sustainability of future AI systems. It aims to fund small-scale, rapid projects that develop novel hardware, algorithms, software or system designs to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining performance. Projects should consider innovations across the AI stack and deliver foundational insights that can be built on in future work.

Grant funding covering 80% of project full economic costs up to a project FEC of £602,500; projects may run for up to 24 months and must start 1 February 2027.

Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding and meet UKRI individual eligibility rules. international researchers can only apply as project co-lead as part of specified UKRI agreements.

Submit an application through the UKRI funding service application portal.