The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that the new Labour Government has decided not to allocate £1.3bn in funding for UK tech and AI projects that were previously promised by the Conservatives. This decision was made due to the lack of new funding in the previous Tory government’s spending plans.
The cancelled funding included £800m for the creation of an exascale supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh and £500m for the AI Research Resource, which supports computing power for AI projects. However, the government clarified that the additional £300m already committed to the AI Research Resource will still be distributed as planned, as it was part of the existing funding.
A spokesman from DSIT reiterated the government’s commitment to building technology infrastructure that promotes growth and opportunities across the UK. Despite the cancellation of funding, the government is working on its own plans to invest in compute infrastructure as part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. This plan is led by industry expert Matt Clifford and aims to enhance compute infrastructure to support the country’s industrial strategy.
On the other hand, Andrew Griffith, the Conservatives’ shadow science, innovation, and technology secretary, criticized Labour for having “lower ambitions” for the UK’s tech sector. He highlighted the Conservatives’ record of increasing public spending on research to £20bn a year and their commitment to further increase it by 10% in the manifesto.
The future of the exascale supercomputer project at the University of Edinburgh is uncertain following the funding cancellation. The university had already invested £31m in preparing for the supercomputer’s installation, which was expected to begin in 2025. The university expressed its readiness to collaborate with the government to support the advancement of this technology in the UK.
In response to the situation, the university’s principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, is seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology to discuss the future of the project. Despite the setback, the university remains committed to leading the way in supercomputing within the UK and harnessing its benefits for various sectors.
Overall, the decision to cancel funding for AI projects reflects the government’s need to make difficult spending choices to address unfunded commitments and restore economic stability. While the cancellation may impact ongoing initiatives, efforts are underway to identify alternative funding sources and support the advancement of technology infrastructure in the UK.
