BridgeAI Innovation Exchange: Empowering AI Innovation

Key Features

The competition aims to accelerate AI adoption across the UK, by fostering collaboration between challenge holders in sectors and developers who need data-rich environments to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £200,000

Opens: 24th Mar 2025

Closes: 23rd Apr 2025

! This scheme is closing soon

Overview

Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £200,000 in innovation projects.

These will be used to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) driven proof of concepts that address a business challenge or opportunity within one of our challenge holder organisations:

 

Scope

This competition aims to accelerate AI adoption across the UK, by fostering collaboration between challenge holders in sectors and developers who need data-rich environments to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

Your project must:

  • develop a technically viable AI-driven proof of concept
  • collaborate closely with the challenge holder to ensure effective delivery
  • use real-world or synthetic data for testing and refinement
  • define measurable success metrics such as productivity gains, cost reductions, or efficiency improvements
  • ensure practicality and usability within the challenge holder’s business environment
  • provide a clear scalability plan for future expansion
  • include training, documentation, or guidelines for knowledge transfer
  • comply with sector-specific regulations, data governance, and AI ethics standards

Your proposal must:

  • demonstrate how the solution enhances productivity, efficiency, or competitiveness
  • address ethical considerations, data privacy, and transparency in AI development
  • present a structured project plan with milestones, timelines, and resource allocation

Portfolio approach

We want to fund a variety of projects across different technologies, markets, technological maturities, challenges, and themes. We call this a portfolio approach.

Funding Costs

Up to £200,000 has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition.

Your total project costs will be up to 100% funded, up to the maximum grant of £50,000. Your grant funding request detailed within your application must not exceed £50,000. If your grant funding request exceeds £50,000 then your application will be made ineligible. Your project costs can be higher than your grant funding request.

You can make reference to any additional voluntary contribution in your application answers. It must not be detailed in the finance section.

Eligibility

Your project must:

  • have a grant funding request between £25,000 and £50,000
  • last between three months and five months
  • carry out its project work in the UK
  • intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
  • start by 1 September 2025
  • end by 28 February 2026

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 the overview of eligible project costs. For specific guidance, see the eligibility section in this competition.

You will be made ineligible if you exceed the Minimal Financial Assistance limit. You must submit a complete declaration as part of your application.

Lead organisation

To lead a project your organisation must be either a UK registered small or medium sized enterprise (SME), or research organisation.

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in the Funding rules.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

Number of applications

An applicant is not allowed to apply for more than two challenges in this competition.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both that in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.