The UK government has revealed it will fund 120 projects aimed at exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can support businesses, following the announcement of its broader AI Opportunities Action Plan. A £7 million funding pool will be distributed across these initiatives, with each project receiving approximately £58,333. The goal is to examine how AI could enhance productivity and efficiency in UK businesses, particularly small enterprises.
The funding is provided through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund and managed by the Innovate UK BridgeAI program. It focuses on helping smaller businesses address common challenges and providing researchers with the tools to tackle everyday problems. In addition to funding, the program will offer businesses access to AI training and expertise.
Examples of funded projects include using AI to reduce food waste in bakeries by predicting daily product demand, developing tools to predict pothole formation, and forecasting mold growth in buildings. Other initiatives target agriculture, such as AI for protecting strawberry yields, and urban planning, like predicting future transportation needs.
The government has also allocated £1 million for AI tools designed to assist educators and transform the education sector. The projects demonstrate AI’s potential to solve a range of problems, from agriculture to infrastructure, enhancing productivity across various industries.
This funding is part of the UK’s broader AI strategy, with the government having recently unveiled the AI Opportunities Action Plan. This plan includes measures to foster AI development, such as AI Growth Zones and a supercomputer project. While the funding amounts are relatively modest compared to global investments in AI, the government’s commitment signals a strong push to position the UK as a leader in AI technology.
