UK-EU AI Collaboration Boosts Innovation

Building on the UK’s new deal with the EU, plans have been launched to enhance AI collaboration across Europe. The government is supporting a new AI collaboration with Europe, which could lead to healthcare treatments, clean energy technologies, and breakthroughs that may transform lives across the UK and drive economic growth.

Public research organisations can now apply to host the UK’s AIFactory Antenna. If approved, this facility would connect British research expertise to advanced supercomputers across Europe.

Compute Power

Access to compute power is crucial for AI progress. Enhanced collaboration will help address global issues like climate change and disease, support the development of advanced AI systems for healthcare and energy, and stimulate economic growth, aligning with the government’s Plan for Change. Expanding international collaboration on compute is a key element of the UK government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.

This announcement follows the recent UK-EU agreement, which aims to boost British jobs and businesses. It reinforces the UK’s renewed partnership with Europe, offering opportunities, driving economic growth, and building stronger relationships.

Minister's Statement

Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, stated that supercomputers are essential for discovery and that strengthening the partnership with Europe will empower British innovators with the compute power needed to address climate and health challenges, grow the economy, and deliver the Plan for Change. This initiative aims to position the UK at the forefront of global AI, equipping researchers and startups to lead on breakthroughs and strengthen Britain’s role in international AI development.

AIFactory Antenna

The expression of interest is open to public research organisations or consortia and will identify the UK’s government-backed bid to apply to EuroHPC’s call, with up to €5 million available. The selected organisation will become the UK’s AIFactory Antenna, partnering with an AIFactory in Europe to combine EuroHPC compute with data, training, and software support. This will enable UK scientists, startups, and public institutions to build larger, more complex AI models, accelerate innovation, and create skilled jobs.

This program builds on the UK’s investment in compute infrastructure, including £44 billion in data centers since July of last year, and is part of broader efforts to ensure the UK has the compute needed to thrive in the age of AI. The government will announce the next sites for AI Growth Zones this summer, and these zones are designed to host AI infrastructure and unlock private investment. These actions are supported by the Compute Strategy, a roadmap to increase national compute capacity twenty-fold.

EuroHPC Joint Undertaking

The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPCJU) is an EU initiative that combines resources from the EU and participating countries to develop European computing infrastructure and research capabilities. It unites supercomputing systems from 35 countries to drive the next generation of computing technologies. The UK joined the EuroHPCJU in May 2024, providing UK researchers with access to EuroHPC’s supercomputers through the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) invites UK public research organisations or consortia to apply to host the UK’s AIFactory Antenna. The host organisation will partner with an EU-based AIFactory that combines EuroHPC compute with AI development support. Applications are due by Wednesday 11 June. The EOI process will identify an organisation or consortium to be endorsed by the UK government for submission to EuroHPC’s call. The UK government is allocating up to £2.5 million in funding, which will be matched by the EU if the application is successful, as part of efforts to expand collaboration with the EuroHPCJU. Earlier this year, the government also committed to match-fund upcoming EuroHPC research grants for UK researchers and businesses.