Fundamental AI Research Lab

Application Components: Summary; Vision and Approach; Applicant & Team Capability (R4RI); Resources & Cost Justification; Ethics & RRI; Training Environment; Doctoral Studentship Costings; Stakeholder Engagement; Host Organisation Support

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S)

Assessment Criteria: Vision and Approach; Applicant & Team Capability; Host Organisation Support; Training Environment; Co-creation & Stakeholder Engagement; Resources & Cost Justification; Ethics & RRI; Doctoral Students

Decision Process: Interview panel assessment (16–17 April 2026); stage gate review outcome expected by February 2027

Decision Risks: Highly competitive; single award; non-submission of Intent to Apply disqualifies; non-compliance may lead to rejection; continuation funding dependent on stage gate review

Doctoral Studentships: Minimum 10 students; 4-year duration; maximum 50% international students; studentships separate training grant

Eligible Research Costs: Research staff; travel; technical support; PRISM roles; training; facilities; consumables; equipment under £25,000; collaboration activities

Eligible Training Costs: Tuition fees (UKRI rates); stipends (minimum UKRI rates); research training support grant (RTSG); management costs up to £350,000

Environmental & EDI Requirements: Mandatory EDI strategy including costed EDI lead; environmental sustainability considerations required; responsible innovation and trusted research principles must be embedded

Funding Structure: 80% FEC (research grant); 100% FEC (training grant); continuation funding subject to stage gate review

Future Funding (Subject to Stage Gate): Up to £32 million additional funding

Governance Requirements: Independent advisory board; regular engagement with EPSRC and DSIT; monitoring and evaluation framework

In-Kind Support: 2 million GPU hours per year via AI Research Resource (AIRR), subject to scheduling prioritisation

Industry Leverage Expectation: Substantial collaboration and leverage (cash or in-kind) expected over lifetime of investment

Ineligible Applicants: Organisations not meeting EPSRC eligibility; industrial establishments applying alone; organisations that did not submit Intent to Apply survey; uninvited resubmissions

Ineligible Costs: Equipment over £25,000 (including VAT); transfer of funds between research and training grants

Initial Research Grant: Up to £7.5 million Full Economic Cost (FEC); EPSRC funds 80% of FEC (up to £6 million)

Intent to Apply Deadline: 16 March 2026, 4:00pm UK time

International Participation: International researchers may apply only as Project Co-Lead (International) under specific UKRI agreements

Key Organisational Requirements: Demonstrated world-leading AI expertise; defined AI strategy; established research environment; supportive training environment; ability to secure industrial leverage

Match Funding Requirement: No institutional matched funding required beyond standard 20% FEC

Monitoring Requirements: Six-monthly updates; annual reports; final report; Researchfish reporting; three-year and five-year reviews; studentship data reporting

Project Start Date: 2026-05-01 00:00:00

Renewal Structure: Initial 18-month research grant; six-year training grant; additional five-year research grant subject to review

Training Grant: Up to £1.9 million FEC; EPSRC funds 100% of FEC; minimum 10 doctoral students