Grant opportunity
Transformative Sustainable AI Technologies
High-risk, high-reward research to create fundamentally more sustainable AI hardware, algorithms, software, architectures and systems.
- Funder
- UK Research and Innovation
- Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time
- Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time: Nov 10, 2026
- Award
- Up to GBP 602,500 full economic cost per project; UKRI funds 80%, with GBP 12.05 million total
- Applicant
- Research groups and eligible individuals based at UK research organisations; eligible international researchers may participate only through specified collaboration agreements or as project partners.
- Discipline
- Artificial Intelligence, Computing and Sustainability
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Aug 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
UKRI will support short, speculative technology-led projects capable of producing a step change in the environmental and long-term sustainability of future AI systems.
Who can apply
The project lead must be based at an eligible UK research organisation and meet UKRI individual eligibility rules. Applications must be primarily technical and cannot consist mainly of policy, legal, ethical or other non-technical research.
What it supports
- Energy-efficient AI
- Hardware-software co-design
- Resource-constrained AI systems
- Sustainable computing architectures
Funding and duration
- Maximum full economic cost of GBP 602,500
- UKRI will fund 80% of full economic cost
- Projects last up to 24 months from 1 February 2027
Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time
Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time: Nov 10, 2026
How to apply
Prepare the application in the UKRI Funding Service after the call opens and allow time for the lead research organisation to review and submit it.
Call details
Source-based overview
The call prioritises genuinely disruptive and technically ambitious ideas rather than incremental efficiency work. Proposals should explain their high-risk rationale and potential to reshape sustainable AI technology.
Eligibility
The project lead must be based at an eligible UK research organisation and meet UKRI individual eligibility rules. Applications must be primarily technical and cannot consist mainly of policy, legal, ethical or other non-technical research.
Funding and benefits
Maximum full economic cost of GBP 602,500
UKRI will fund 80% of full economic cost
Projects last up to 24 months from 1 February 2027
Themes and supported activities
Energy-efficient AI
Hardware-software co-design
Resource-constrained AI systems
Sustainable computing architectures
Deadline and timeline
Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time: Upcoming call opens 24 August and closes 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time: Nov 10, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Prepare the application in the UKRI Funding Service after the call opens and allow time for the lead research organisation to review and submit it.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.