Frontier AI Benchmarking Datasets Grant Programme
Summary
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announces a funding opportunity through Innovate UK for Frontier AI Benchmarking Datasets. UK registered organisations can apply for grants up to £4.5 million to create, curate, annotate, and exploit FAIR-data and benchmarks supporting AI industry growth. Applications close 27 May 2026.
What changed
UKRI has announced a new funding programme offering up to £4.5 million for the creation of AI benchmarking datasets and FAIR-data standards. The grant is funded by Innovate UK and targets UK-registered organisations, specifically collaborative projects led by businesses or RTOs that include at least one SME. Applications open 21 April 2026 and close 27 May 2026.
Affected parties—technology companies, research institutions, and SMEs involved in AI development—should assess eligibility and prepare consortium applications. The funding focuses on data and benchmarks to fuel AI industry growth, not on direct AI regulation itself.
What to do next
- Monitor UKRI funding portal for application opening on 21 April 2026
- Submit application by 27 May 2026 11:00am UK time if eligible
- Ensure consortium includes at least one UK-registered SME
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Funding opportunity
Funding opportunity: Frontier AI Benchmarking Datasets
Opportunity status: Upcoming Funders: Funding type: Grant Maximum award: £4,500,000 Publication date: 14 April 2026 Opening date:
21 April 2026 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
27 May 2026 11:00am UK time
See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £4.5 million. This programme focuses on the creation, curation, annotation and exploitation of FAIR-data and benchmarks which will fuel AI industry growth. This funding is from Innovate UK.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to collaborations only.
To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size or RTO. The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application.
Print and download options
Guidance on good research
Subscribe to UKRI emails
Keep up to date with funding, news and events, and a weekly newsletter.
Related changes
Get daily alerts for UKRI Funding Opportunities (All Councils)
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from UKRI.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when UKRI Funding Opportunities (All Councils) publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.