UK Sovereign AI Fund — Strategic Assets Programme

Sovereign AI Strategic Assets Programme — Initial

Supports United Kingdom sovereign AI growth by funding infrastructure and shared digital innovation assets.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Sovereign AI Strategic Assets Programme, administered by DSIT through the Sovereign AI Unit, is a new grants programme designed to create shared, strategic AI assets critical for UK AI ecosystem growth. The initial round opened 16 April 2026 and offered £9 million in grants, with individual awards ranging from £1 million to £9 million per project. Two asset classes were in scope for the initial round: high-quality AI datasets and autonomous or automated laboratory infrastructure. The total programme envelope is planned at up to £160 million across a four-year horizon, subject to approvals, with further asset classes and rounds expected later in 2026.

Eligible lead applicants must be UK-registered companies, charities, universities, or research organisations; consortia are permitted and non-UK organisations may participate as partners but cannot lead. Projects must be located and delivered in the UK. Proposals must align with at least one of six Sovereign AI priority areas: Compute Efficiency and Sovereign Architecture; Next-Generation AI Labs; Health and Life Sciences AI; AI for Scientific Discovery; AI Trust, Integrity and Assurance; and Defence and National Security AI Systems. Funding rates differ by track: non-commercial applicants may claim up to 100% of eligible costs, while commercial applicants ordinarily receive 50%, rising to up to 70% in specified circumstances. The initial round had two application windows: 7 May 2026 and a final deadline of 5 June 2026 at 2:00pm.

Applications follow a three-stage process: Expression of Interest (assessed within three working days), Full Application (scored on technical feasibility, impact, governance, and cost/value), and Final Decision by an Investment Committee reviewing strategic fit. Proposals are submitted through the Sovereign AI Unit portal at sovereignai.gov.uk. Applicants seeking to win should demonstrate the asset's criticality to the UK AI ecosystem, its alignment to at least one Sovereign AI priority, and a credible plan for shared access and long-term governance of the created asset.