To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they are giving for research in artificial intelligence; and to which companies and institutions.
Answered on
17 June 2020
As of April 2019, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment in AI relevant research and innovation activities totals over £1bn. This breaks down as follows:
- Training: £135m, including a £100m investment in UKRI AI Centres for Doctoral Training.
- Research and Innovation: £530m, of which £129m funds ‘novel AI algorithms, tools and techniques’, and £401m funds ‘applications and implications of AI’.
- Key Strategic Investments: £410m, which includes support for the Alan Turing Institute, the Hartree Centre, Health Data Research UK, and AI relevant activities across relevant investments made through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and Strategic Priorities Fund.
Businesses have matched £742m of Innovate UK and EPSRC investments by at least £265m cash and in-kind contributions. The Catapult network, supported by UKRI and additional third-party investments, also have a key role to play in this space in enabling AI and data capabilities across sectors and leveraging further private investment.
Almost 300 organisations receive funding from UKRI for AI research and innovation. Industry organisations receiving funding include, Five AI Ltd, Oxbotica Ltd, Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Westfield Sports Car Ltd, and Vivacity Labs Ltd. Our most active institutions in this area include; University College London, The University of Oxford, Imperial College London, The University of Manchester, and The University of Edinburgh.