A British AI-driven
innovation that dramatically speeds up the development of
materials used in wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries
has won the UK government's £1 million Manchester Prize.
Advanced materials are essential to modern life, from metal
alloys reinforcing bridges and skyscrapers to batteries powering
electric vehicles. Yet, developing them has traditionally been
slow, costly and unpredictable.
Polaron, a spin out from Imperial College London, speeds up the
development of these materials from years to days – which could
be game-changing for the government's Plan for Change to get
Britain building, deliver economic growth and accelerate net zero
through British innovation.
It will receive £1 million in UK government funding to further
develop its groundbreaking AI solution which uses
microstructural images - the microscopic features of a material
visible under a microscope - to rapidly analyse and predict how
materials will perform. This new approach helps manufacturers
create stronger, lighter and more efficient materials for clean
energy, transport and infrastructure.
Secretary of State said:
Polaron exemplifies the promise of AI and shows how, through
our Plan for Change, we are putting AI innovation at the
forefront.
AI could
generate £400 billion to our economy over the next five years,
supporting trailblazing companies like Polaron is essential to
achieving that vision.
Technologies like these will help us meet our net zero targets
while creating new jobs and opportunities for working people. Our
commitment is clear - we are fully embracing AI to drive growth, improve
public services and position the UK as a global leader
in AI innovation. 1
The Manchester Prize rewards innovative AI solutions addressing
major societal challenges, with the first round focused on
energy, environment, and infrastructure. Nearly 300 teams from
across the UK competed in its first year, with ten finalists each
receiving £100,000 and support to further develop their
innovations.
Polaron's win comes on the back of the UK government's new
blueprint for AI, which will unleash the
technology to help deliver a decade of national renewal.
Harnessing innovative AI solutions like this is
key to realising the government's Plan for Change and
demonstrates the transformative potential of AI, not only to drive
breakthroughs in industry but also to transform public services
and improve the lives of citizens across the country.
Business Secretary said:
Our Plan for Change will deliver economic growth, and for
that to succeed we need to support companies such as Polaron
across the UK in delivering the cutting-edge materials of the
future, supported by our Industrial Strategy.
This government is determined to embrace each and every
opportunity of new technologies like AI, which will not only help
British companies develop products we can use at home but also
open up access for them to export them overseas.
The government has already taken steps to accelerate how game
changing technologies and innovations can be put into the hands
of the British public – announcing the new Regulatory Innovation
Office which will reduce burdens for businesses hoping to bring
new products and services to market. This will involve supporting
regulators to update regulation, speeding up approvals, and
ensuring regulators can work seamlessly together – bulldozing
barriers to innovation to help grow the economy.
The Manchester
Prize was launched in December 2023 by the Department
for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT)
and is delivered in partnership with Challenge Works. It supports
UK AI innovations which will
help to tackle some of society's biggest shared challenges.
The second round of the Manchester Prize was launched in November
2024, focussed on ‘AI for Clean Energy
Systems'. The 10 finalists selected to receive £100,000 will be
confirmed in Spring, before a panel of judges selects the winner
who will secure a £1 million grand prize to further support their
innovation.
Notes to editors
- Public First, ‘Google's
Impact in the UK 2023', 2024
For further information and to follow the Manchester Prize,
visit www.challengeworks.org.uk//challenge-prizes/manchester-prize.
Challenge Works is a global leader in designing and delivering
high-impact challenge prizes that incentivise cutting-edge
innovation for social good.
