TL;DR

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has published its first AI strategy, backed by a record £1.6 billion in funding targeted at the AI sector between now and 2030. The strategy covers six priority areas including technology development, AI skills, responsible AI and infrastructure. Specific commitments include up to £137 million for AI-enabled drug discovery and £36 million to upgrade Cambridge’s DAWN supercomputer.

What the strategy covers

The UKRI AI Research and Innovation Strategic Framework is the organisation’s biggest single investment area for 2026 to 2030. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, leading the UK delegation at the India AI Impact Summit, said the funding would ensure “the best of British expertise develops the next wave of AI innovations.”

Investment will focus on six priority areas: advancing technology development, transforming research through AI, developing AI skills and talent, accelerating innovation for economic growth, championing responsible and trustworthy AI, and building data infrastructure.

Two previously announced commitments sit within the strategy: up to £137 million for AI-enabled scientific discovery starting with drug treatments, delivered through DSIT’s AI for Science Strategy announced in November 2025, and £36 million to upgrade Cambridge’s DAWN supercomputer, announced in January 2026.

Building on existing AI work

UKRI pointed to current projects already producing results. The RADAR AI system detects faults on the UK railway network in real time and is attracting international interest. The IXI Brain Atlas uses AI-powered imaging to support more than 40 clinical trials into Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Nisien.ai’s Hero Detect tool identifies online harms in real time.

The strategy also commits to expanding doctoral and fellowship routes designed with businesses, and supporting career frameworks for research software engineers, data scientists and ethics specialists.

Looking forward

Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said UKRI would “back the full innovation pathway from fundamental research to prototypes to scale-up.” The strategy positions AI as central to the UK’s industrial strategy, with UKRI aiming to turn research strength into economic advantage through regional clusters, job creation and high-growth technology investment.