UK-EU Partnership to Boost AI Innovation and Research
The UK government has launched a new initiative to strengthen AI collaboration with the European Union. This effort invites UK public research organisations to apply to become the UK’s AI Factory Antenna, connecting British researchers to Europe's top supercomputing resources.
Access to high-performance computing is vital for advancing AI research. The initiative supports developments in healthcare, clean energy, and other sectors by enabling faster, more complex AI model training. This collaboration is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to drive economic growth and create new jobs.
What the AI Factory Antenna Means for UK Research
The chosen organisation or consortium will link UK research expertise to European supercomputers through a partnership with an AI Factory. These AI Factories combine compute power with data, training, and software support, allowing UK scientists and startups to accelerate innovation and shorten development cycles.
This initiative aligns with the UK government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which highlights international collaboration on computing as a priority to boost AI adoption across the economy.
Funding and Next Steps
The UK government is offering up to £2.5 million in funding, which will be matched by the EU if the UK’s application to EuroHPC is successful. EuroHPC, an EU-driven programme involving 35 countries, provides access to world-class supercomputing infrastructure for research and innovation.
Applications to host the UK’s AI Factory Antenna must be submitted by Wednesday 11 June 2025. The selected host will represent the UK in EuroHPC’s call for AI Factory Antennae, facilitating closer ties with European AI development projects.
Broader Context and Infrastructure Investment
This programme complements the UK’s recent £44 billion investment in data centres since July 2024, reflecting a national effort to expand computing capacity for AI. The government will also soon announce new AI Growth Zones—specialist clusters intended to attract private investment and create skilled jobs.
Later this year, the government plans to publish its Compute Strategy, a ten-year roadmap to increase national compute capacity twenty-fold, ensuring the UK remains competitive in AI research and applications.
About EuroHPC
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking is an EU-led initiative pooling resources from member states and participating countries to advance European supercomputing capabilities. The UK joined EuroHPC in May 2024, gaining free access for UK researchers to its supercomputers under the Horizon Europe association.
How to Get Involved
Eligible UK public research organisations or consortia interested in hosting the UK’s AI Factory Antenna should submit their expression of interest by 11 June 2025. This is a strategic opportunity to connect the UK’s AI research community with Europe’s leading computing infrastructure, fostering innovation and job creation.
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