Efficient, Structured and Controllable AI Systems

Innovate UK competition funding experimental validation of prototype AI systems that deliver efficient, structured and controllable learning instead of brute-force scaling, including reusable components other developers can build on. Projects of GBP 50,000 to GBP 150,000 in total eligible costs draw grant support of up to 70% of costs, depending on business size, from a GBP 1.66M pot. Only UK-registered SMEs are eligible and must apply alone, with no subcontractors and one application per organisation, and the work must be carried out in the UK and exploited from the UK. Single round: the competition opens 12 October 2026 and closes 18 November 2026.