Overall Description

Next Generation Artificial Intelligence (AI): Explainable AI is a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding opportunity, delivered with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It is the first funding opportunity under the flagship UKRI IS8 AI Programme.

The call supports speculative, high-risk and potentially high-reward fundamental research capable of delivering a step change in the explainability of future AI systems. Applications are particularly welcomed from early- and mid-career UK researchers.

Funding Amount

• The full economic cost (FEC) of an individual project can be up to £602,500.
• UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC, meaning a maximum UKRI contribution of £482,000 per project. Smaller proposals are also welcomed.
  • The funding can cover costs including:
  • Salaries of project leads and co-leads;
  • Research, technical and project-management staff;
  • Research consumables, including compute costs;
  • Travel and subsistence;
  • Data preservation, sharing and dissemination;
  • Estates and indirect costs.
• Total fund for the programme is £12.05 million. 
• Projects may last for up to 24 months and must start on 1 February 2027.

Submission Deadlines

The application period is:

• Opening: 11 August 2026 at 09:00 UK time;
• Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 16:00 UK time.

Submission Conditions

• Applications must be submitted through the UKRI Funding Service. The project lead is responsible for completing the application, with contributions from the other team members and project partners, but only the lead research organisation can formally submit the application to UKRI.
• Applicants must meet the standard UKRI eligibility requirements. Each person may participate in no more than two applications to this funding opportunity, and only one may be as project lead.
• Joint project leadership is permitted, but the team must designate an administrative project lead based at an eligible UK research organisation. The inclusion of researcher co-leads is encouraged where they have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the proposal.
• Successful teams are also expected to participate in two annual workshops designed to build a cohort of explainable-AI experts, facilitate further research development and provide information about future funding opportunities.

Eligible Types Of Applicants

Applicants must be based at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding and meet UKRI's standard eligibility requirements. Eligible applicant organisations therefore include:

• Higher education institutions (HEIs);
• Independent research organisations (IROs);
• Research council institutes;
• Public sector research establishments (PSREs);
• Other UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding.

Applications are particularly encouraged from early- and mid-career researchers. Researcher co-leads and joint project leadership are permitted under the conditions of the call.

Eligible Countries

• The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK research organisation.
• International researchers can also participate, but only as a “project co-lead (international)” where the application uses either:
  • The UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation agreement; or
  • The UKRI-IIASA agreement.
• Other international collaborators may participate as project partners. UK partners that are not based at UKRI-approved organisations may similarly participate as project partners.