BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Decision Critical Systems

UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that support consequential judgements, recommendations or decisions. Funding is from Innovate UK. Total funding: £5 million Minimum award: £100,000 Maximum award: £200,000 Location: England Who can apply: Private Sector Closing date: 2026-12-08 11:00 (UK time) Eligibility Who can apply Your project Your project must: - have a grant funding request of between £100,000 and £200,000 - last between three and five months - start by 1 April 2027 - end by 31 August 2027 The minimum consortium size for this competition is two organisations: one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) and one eligible UK registered deployer. You may include no more than one additional organisation, giving a maximum consortium size of three. For subsequent programme phases, the lead organisation must remain the same throughout. If the deployer organisation drops out, you must provide a replacement. Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating why the new deployer can deliver a similar deployment outcome to that originally intended. Any organisation receiving funding must carry out its project work in the UK, intend to exploit the results in the UK, and spend most of the funding within the UK. Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date. You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs. Lead organisation To lead a collaborative project, your organisation must be a UK registered SME. You must: - have an existing Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) solution at technology readiness level (TRL) 5 or 6, with a functioning minimum viable product - demonstrat Summary Description Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £5 million in BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst Phase 1. Across all three phases of the BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst programme, Innovate UK expects to make up to £52 million available. Funding for this phase and subsequent phases is subject to Full Business Case approval by UKRI and a sufficient number of high quality applications. BridgeAI aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions across key growth sectors in the Industrial Strategy. It will support high potential UK AI micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) to move beyond pilots into trusted, real world deployment, while generating evidence and learning that can support wider commercial adoption. The overall aim of this competition is to fund the development of innovative AI deployment use cases that can progress through later programme stages towards deployment and replication. For this phase, we will fund consortia that will undertake and complete the following activities during the project: - develop a clear, evidence based deployment use case that articulates the value Objectives Your proposal The overall aim of this competition is to fund the development of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment use cases that can progress through later programme stages towards full deployment and replication. For this phase, we will fund consortia that will undertake and complete the following activities during the project: - develop a clear, evidence based deployment use case that articulates the value to the deployer - explain how the system will be used and demonstrate w Dates 26 October 2026 Collaborative event: register to attend 27 October 2026 Online briefing event: register to attend (Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event) 1 February 2027 Applicants notified 1 April 2027 Project start