The Gateway route is an open and flexible pathway to request computational resources for users across academia, commercial and individual research. Users should be looking to explore novel and developing areas of AI research, as well as supporting upskilling across a wide range of AI-relevant experience.
Potential AI-related research topics
These include, but are not limited to:
Development of novel algorithms and software tools
Examples include:
- enhanced performance and efficiency: improved accuracy, processing speed and resource efficiency
- scalability and adaptability: developing algorithms that are more adept at handling big data, and that can enable AI models to apply knowledge from one domain to another
- robustness and reliability: developing algorithms that are resistant to adversarial attacks and that can provide clear explanations for their decisions
- innovation and new applications: novel creative AI algorithms can drive advancements in generative models, or that can that enhance human-AI collaboration to leverage the strengths of both humans and machines
- ethical and responsible AI: developing algorithms that detect and mitigate biases, and that ensure data privacy
Exploring AI-assisted workflow
Examples include:
Optimisation of experimental parameters
AI can be used to fine-tune experimental setups by analysing vast amounts of data to identify optimal conditions. This can significantly speed up research and development processes in fields like materials science and drug discovery.
AI-enhanced simulations
AI can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of simulations in various domains, such as climate modelling, financial forecasting, and engineering design. By integrating AI, simulations can become more predictive and less computationally intensive
Hypothesis generation
AI can assist researchers in generating new hypotheses by identifying patterns and correlations in data that may not be immediately apparent to humans. This can lead to novel insights and directions for research
AI-driven data collection, production, and synthesis
Examples include:
- data collection: AI can automate and improve the processes of data collection, ensuring higher quality and more comprehensive datasets
- data-set curation: using AI to help automate the curation and cleaning process, identifying and correcting errors, filling in missing values, and standardising data formats
- data-set creation: generating synthetic data or compiling existing data into a structured format
Within these novel and developing areas, we are particularly keen to hear from projects that contribute to delivering against the government’s six missions:
- strong foundations
- growing the economy
- an NHS fit for the future
- safer streets
- opportunity for all
- making Britain a clean energy superpower
And the modern Industrial Strategy’s eight sectors:
- advanced manufacturing
- creative industries
- life sciences
- clean energy
- defence
- digital and technologies
- professional and business services
- financial services
This route covers activities that fall into the following categories:
- fundamental research
- feasibility studies
- industrial research
- experimental development
See more on our categories of research and development.
Resources available
Each application can request 10,000 GPU hours on either of the AIRR services, Dawn or Isambard-AI.
The GPU hours must be used within three months of the project being awarded.
Projects may specify a preferred start date up to one month after submitting their application. While we will make every effort to honour this request, compute resources will be made available immediately upon project approval.
The project start date will not be able to be deferred once the award is made. Project extensions can only be requested on a case-by-case basis and under exceptional circumstances.
This application process is purely for compute resource. No funding is available to successful applicants.
Trusted research and innovation
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.
Trusted research and innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary.
Our TR&I principles set out UKRI’s expectations of projects awarded through this route in relation to due diligence for UK and international collaboration.
Subsidy control and State aid where applicable
All AIRR access routes provide awards in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
In the ‘Lead organisation details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation, including your subsidy history.
If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.
You must always make sure that the resources awarded to you are compliant with all current Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the UK.
Project finances
Project applications from businesses, or non-academic organisations undertaking feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development projects, will need to state all eligible project costs. Academic organisations do not need to provide this information. The information on project costs is required to ensure awards are made inline with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
Remember that no funding is available through this route, only compute resource.
For an overview on what costs you can include in your project, see Costs guidance for non-academic organisations. Note this is general guidance. You can also view our application finances video.
The AIRR programme would welcome the following project costs as aligning to the policy objectives:
- software development
- staff training related to AI
Support ratios
Project applications from businesses, or non-academic organisations undertaking feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development projects, will need to ensure that the balance between your total eligible project costs and the amount of compute resources awarded is funded by your organisation. Academic organisations are not subject to this requirement.
For feasibility studies and industrial research, the maximum percentage of the overall eligible project costs that can be compute resources awarded through this route are:
- up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 50% if you are a large organisation.
For experimental development, the maximum percentage of the overall eligible project costs that can be compute resources awarded through this route are:
- up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 35% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 25% if you are a large organisation
For more information on company sizes, refer to the company accounts guidance.
If you are applying for an award funded under State aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.
