AISI collaborates with leading researchers to foster cutting-edge solutions that address the most pressing challenges in AI security and safety.
Our Grants programmes are designed to maximise impact and adaptability in an era of rapidly evolving technology. We support projects that push the boundaries of AI research while ensuring security, safety and responsible development remain at the core of innovation.
Through targeted grant funding, we collaborate with leading researchers, institutions, and organisations to foster cutting-edge solutions that address the most pressing challenges in AI security and safety. Our approach ensures that resources are effectively allocated to generate high impact outcomes for the broader AI ecosystem.
If you are working on innovative solutions that align with our mission, we invite you to explore our research partnerships funding opportunities. Together, we can shape a safer and more secure AI future.
You can see the types of research are we excited to fund in our Problem Books and Research Statements.
The Challenge Fund will award grants of up to £200,000 per project to address pressing, unresolved questions in AI safety and security. Researchers worldwide can access grants for innovative research in fields such as cyber-attacks and AI misuse.
The fund will focus on supporting research tackling four critical AI security challenges. As AI integrates into financial markets, healthcare, and energy grids, failures or misuse could cause systemic disruptions and security risks. AI systems are also increasingly targeted for manipulation, with bad actors attempting to bypass safeguards and exploit advanced capabilities. This funding will support research to strengthen protections and reduce these risks.
The AISI Challenge Fund aims to:
The Fund is designed to support a diverse range of projects that contribute to the broader field of safe and secure AI development. While we are particularly interested in research areas outlined here, we also welcome proposals that explore other innovative topics relevant to the safe and secure development of AI systems.
Join our webinar on 11th March 2025 at 16:00 – 17:00 UK time, where we will talk you through the information in the Application Pack and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. A recording of the session will be made available here in the website for those who are not able to join the live call.
The AISI Challenge Fund encourages researchers who are based at eligible* UK and international academic institutions and non-profit organisations, to submit their solution in response to the following Challenge Statement.
We are seeking applications that propose research that aligns with AISI's remit. We particularly welcome proposals that address AISI's priority areas.
Proposals should demonstrate clear pathways to impact and offer research that would not otherwise occur without this funding.
*More details on eligible applicants can be found in our Application Pack.
The Fund will award grants ranging from £50,000 to £200,000 per project, tailored to the scope of proposals.
As the first ever government-backed AI institute, working with AISI also offers a unique opportunity to translate research on safe and secure AI development into real-world impact. By collaborating with us, you will:
The application process is managed through Apply for a Grant portal. To ensure applicants meet the eligibility criteria and align with the objectives of the Fund, we have implemented a two-stage application process:
In addition to delivering your proposed projects, successful fund recipients will be expected to produce progress updates against financial and non-financial performance metrics and participate in regular progress meetings with AISI. These expectations would be laid out in the Grant Funding Agreement terms and conditions.
Our AISI Challenge Fund Application Pack will provide you with all pertinent details about the programme.
For further questions or clarifications, please refer to our Clarification Questions document or message us at aisichallengefund@dsit.gov.uk. Please note we are unable to respond to emails individually, however we will address all relevant questions in the CQ document which will be updated periodically.
Reference Documents:
The deployment of AI across critical infrastructure and societal systems - like financial markets, healthcare, and energy grids - offers immense benefits. It also poses risks which have the potential for significant disruption in high-stakes domains. Our Systemic AI Safety Grants Programme, first announced at the Seoul AI Summit, aims to increase societal resilience to AI-related risks so its benefits can be fully realised. Its key objectives included:
Grant Window Now Closed
The grant application window is now closed, and we are pleased to announce that 20 projects have been selected and are currently in the delivery period. This marks an exciting milestone as it was the first grant scheme that AISI has delivered.