UK government backs Cambridge supercomputer with £36m boost to AI research infrastructure
The UK government announced a £36m investment into the DAWN supercomputer at the University of Cambridge to expand its computing power and support artificial intelligence research and innovation.
Officials said the funding will increase the supercomputer’s capacity sixfold, boosting the tools available to researchers and start-ups that rely on high-performance computing for AI development. DAWN is part of the national AI Research Resource programme, which provides free access to advanced computing power normally only available to large technology firms.
The government’s approach reflects a broader strategy to ensure British researchers and companies can compete internationally in AI and advanced computing. According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the expanded capacity will be available as early as spring 2026 and form part of a wider effort that includes plans to grow the UK’s AI Research Resource significantly by 2030.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:
“The UK is home to world-class AI talent, but too often our ambitious researchers and most promising start-ups have been held back by a lack of access to the computing power they need.”
He added that this investment “changes that – giving British innovators the tools to compete with the biggest players and develop AI that improves lives, from spotting diseases earlier to helping communities prepare for extreme weather, right across the country.”
Professor Sir John Aston, pro-vice-chancellor for research at the University of Cambridge, described the funding as a major step for the UK’s computing ecosystem, saying it will “give researchers, clinicians and innovators the tools they need to drive breakthroughs that improve public services.”
The announcement forms part of the government’s wider AI Opportunities Action Plan, which includes public funding for computing infrastructure intended to underpin scientific breakthroughs and economic growth.
By increasing access to high-power computing, the government aims to remove a roadblock that many researchers and small tech companies face when developing advanced AI systems, making cutting-edge hardware a more accessible part of the UK’s innovation landscape.
Author: Kieran Seymour