In a recent development, the new Labour government has decided to shelve £1.3 billion in funding previously promised by the Conservative administration for tech and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. This move includes £800 million intended for the creation of an exascale supercomputer at Edinburgh University and £500 million allocated for the AI Research Resource, which supports computing power for AI research.
The funding, announced less than a year ago, was aimed at advancing the UK’s technological capabilities. However, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) stated that while these funds were promised, they were not actually allocated in the budget.
This decision has sparked criticism from various sectors. Barney Hussey-Yeo, a tech business founder, expressed concerns that cutting back on investment could drive more entrepreneurs to seek opportunities in the US. Chris van der Kuyl, a businessman, labeled the move as "idiotic." The trade body techUK has urged the government to quickly present new proposals to avoid falling behind in critical future industries.
In defense of its actions, DSIT explained that the government is making challenging spending decisions across all departments to address a significant financial shortfall. This approach is deemed necessary to restore economic stability and support the country’s growth objectives. Despite this, DSIT assured that it remains
The future of the Edinburgh supercomputer, a project that was set to be 50 times faster than any current UK computer, is now uncertain. The University of Edinburgh, which had already invested £31 million in preparation for the project, is seeking urgent discussions with the government. The supercomputer was expected to enhance research capabilities in fields such as AI, drug discovery, climate science, and advanced engineering.
Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson described the news as "bad," while techUK’s Sue Daley emphasized the importance of large-scale computing investments for scientific breakthroughs and economic growth. Daley stressed that in a highly competitive global market, the UK needs to quickly devise new plans or risk losing its competitive edge.
In response, DSIT has tasked Matt Clifford, a key organizer of the recent AI Safety Summit, with developing an action plan to identify new AI opportunities, including infrastructure needs. The tech sector remains a crucial part of the UK economy, valued at $1.1 trillion (£863 billion) as of early 2024, highlighting the importance of continued investment in this area.
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