UK AI Innovation boost as government invests £36m into making Cambridge supercomputer six times more powerful
techUK is keeping track of the 2026 updates to the AI Opportunities Action Plan. A full summary of all the announcements this month is forthcoming.
Today, the government has announced a £36 million investment to upgrade the DAWN supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, aimed at increasing its computing power sixfold and significantly expanding access to high-performance AI compute in the UK.
The investment aims to further tackle long-standing limitations on access to advanced computing for UK researchers, start-ups, and SMEs. By expanding DAWN’s capacity through the AI Research Resource (AIRR) programme, the government can now provide wider, free access to cutting-edge AI chips.
This update to DAWN through AIRR will equip researchers with AMD’s latest MI355X chips, Dell supercomputer infrastructure, and StackHPC software. Deployment is aiming to begin in Spring 2026.
This expansion will enable UK researchers and businesses to work with larger datasets, develop more complex models, and accelerate breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare, environmental modelling, and public service delivery. DAWN already supports more than 350 projects, including personalised cancer vaccines and advanced climate modelling to prepare for extreme weather conditions.
Why has this been announced?
This announcement forms part of the government’s broader strategy to support AI innovation, as outlined in the January 2025 AI Opportunities Action Plan, which sets out 50 recommendations and includes major commitments such as a twentyfold increase in available compute capacity by 2030 and a £750 million investment in a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh.
It also aligns with the July 2025 UK Compute Roadmap, which builds on the Action Plan by setting out additional long-term commitments to strengthen the UK’s national compute capabilities and ensure long-term investment.
techUK reaction
techUK warmly welcomes the government’s £36 million investment to expand capabilities of the DAWN supercomputer.
While this announcement reinforces the government’s broader AI strategy, including the AI Opportunities Action Plan and Compute Roadmap, continued clarity and coordination across compute resources is necessary to promote access, especially for the UK’s growing tech sector. Further detail on timelines, infrastructure delivery, and how other emerging compute technologies will be integrated is key to sustaining the UK’s competitive edge in AI.
techUK looks forward to continuing its engagement with government, representing members’ interests and helping shape the delivery of initiatives to ensure the UK remains a global leader in AI innovation.
To stay up to date with future AI and compute developments, sign up to techUK’s AI newsletter, and Tech and Innovation newsletter to ensure you don't miss out on future insights, events and opportunities.
techUK - Seizing the AI Opportunity
The UK is a global leader in AI innovation, development and adoption.
AI has the potential to boost UK GDP by £550 billion by 2035, making adoption an urgent economic priority. techUK and our members are committed to working with the Government to turn the AI Opportunities Action Plan into reality. Together we can ensure the UK seizes the opportunities presented by AI technology and continues to be a world leader in AI development.
Get involved: techUK runs a busy calendar of activities including events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant AI opportunities for the UK. Our AI Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activity. We also send a monthly AI newsletter which you can subscribe to here.
Upcoming AI Events
NHS England technology blueprint: industry engagement session mission
Online Industry Briefing
Latest news and insights
Subscribe to our AI newsletter
AI and Data Analytics updates
Sign-up to our monthly newsletter to get the latest updates and opportunities from our AI and Data Analytics Programme straight to your inbox.
Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Visit our AI Hub - the home of all our AI content:
Enquire about membership:
Authors
Elis Thomas
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on AI, Semiconductors and Digital ID.
