Sovereign AI Open Call: Autonomous Labs
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched an early market engagement call for teams developing autonomous lab capabilities in the UK.
Opportunity to shape government support and future funding
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched an early market engagement call for teams developing autonomous lab capabilities in the UK.
Autonomous labs combine robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-throughput experimentation to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
This call aims to:
- identify teams working in this area
- understand market needs and expectations
- support the development of potential government interventions
Eligible proposals should demonstrate strategic alignment, technical ambition, feasibility, and potential for unique UK capability with effective partnerships.
DSIT's Sovereign AI Unit plans to work with successful applicants during a discovery phase to co-design potential interventions, such as funding, access to national computing infrastructure, technical collaboration, and public-private partnerships.
This call is not a funding competition but a step to shape future opportunities. All interested teams should explain what support they need and how they could collaborate with the Sovereign AI Unit.
The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on 19 December 2025.
Find out more and apply: Sovereign AI Open Call: Autonomous Labs.
The Sovereign AI Unit, announced in the UK government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, has a mandate to strengthen the UK's AI capabilities with up to £500 million in funding.
First published 24 November 2025