UK robotics and AI projects win £68m of funding

Published: 21 November, 2017

The UK's Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) is awarding £68m in funding to several ground-breaking research and innovation projects in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The awards are part of the government’s £93m of funding for the robotics and AI in extreme environments programme announced by the Chancellor in his April budget.

The programme aims to develop robotic systems to ensure safer working in industries such as offshore, nuclear energy, space and deep mining, as well as increasing productivity and opening up cross-disciplinary opportunities.

The investments include £44.5m, spread over 3½ years, for four research hubs to be managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The hubs will be supported by an extra £51.6m from commercial and international partners.

“These pioneering projects, driven by the very best minds in UK research and industry, exemplify the huge potential of what can be achieved through the ISCF and the long-term benefits for the UK economy,” says Ruth McKernan, chief executive of Innovate UK. “There will be further opportunities for businesses in the coming months.”