EPSRC has announced a call for a Fundamental AI Research Lab, a major strategic investment aimed at advancing the UK’s position in next-generation artificial intelligence. It will support research with the potential to radically redefine the trajectory of AI model development, targeting areas not currently pursued by commercial AI labs due to their early stage or high-risk nature. The award may be worth up to £40m at 80% fEC for a 6-year programme. 

 The opportunity supports ambitious, high-risk, high-reward fundamental AI research combined with leadership in training and collaboration for major impact on the foundational science of AI. Full details of the call are available on the UKRI website. Only one application per institution is permitted and a single national award will be made. The deadline for submission of applications is 31 March 2026.

The institutional application will be coordinated by ai@cam.

 Colleagues whose research may align with the ambitions of the call and are interested, are invited to contact the ai@cam coordination team (contact@ai.cam.ac.uk) with ‘EPSRC FAIRL call’ in the subject line, briefly noting your area of focus, by 17:00 on 11 March.