A British AI-driven innovation that dramatically speeds up the development of advanced materials used in wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries has won the UK’s £1m Manchester Prize.
Advanced materials are essential to modern life, from metal alloys reinforcing bridges and skyscrapers to batteries powering electric vehicles.
However, developing them has traditionally been slow, costly and unpredictable.
Polaron, a spin-out from Imperial College London, speeds up the development of these materials from years to days – which could be game-changing for the government’s Plan for Change to get Britain building, deliver economic growth and accelerate net zero.
AI can predict the performance of advanced materials
Polaron will receive £1m in UK Government funding to further develop its groundbreaking AI solution, which uses microstructural images – the microscopic features of a material visible under a microscope – to analyse and predict how rapidly advanced materials will perform.
This new approach helps manufacturers create stronger, lighter and more efficient advanced materials for clean energy, transport and infrastructure.
Secretary of State Peter Kyle explained: “AI could generate £400bn for our economy over the next five years; supporting trailblazing companies like Polaron is essential to achieving that vision.
“Technologies like these will help us meet our net zero targets while creating new jobs and opportunities for working people.
“Our commitment is clear: We are fully embracing AI to drive growth, improve public services and position the UK as a global leader in AI innovation.”
Delivering national renewal with the Manchester Prize
The Manchester Prize rewards innovative AI solutions addressing major societal challenges, with the first round focused on energy, environment, and infrastructure.
Nearly 300 teams from across the UK competed in its first year, with ten finalists each receiving £100,000 and support to develop their innovations further.
Polaron’s initiative to develop advanced materials with AI comes on the back of the UK Government’s new blueprint for AI, which will unleash the technology to help deliver a decade of national renewal.
Harnessing innovative AI solutions like this demonstrates the transformative potential of AI, not only to drive breakthroughs in industry but also to transform public services and improve the lives of citizens across the country.
“It is crucial to support companies such as Polaron across the UK in delivering the cutting-edge advanced materials of the future, supported by our Industrial Strategy,” said Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
“This government is determined to embrace each and every opportunity of new technologies like AI, which will not only help British companies develop products we can use at home but also open up access for them to export them overseas.”
Government and industry collaboration is crucial for innovation
The government has already taken steps to accelerate how game-changing technologies and innovations can be put into the hands of the British public – announcing the new Regulatory Innovation Office, which will reduce burdens for businesses hoping to bring new products and services to market.
This will involve supporting regulators to update regulations, speeding up approvals, and ensuring regulators can work seamlessly together – bulldozing barriers to innovation to help grow the economy.
The Manchester Prize was launched in December 2023 by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and is delivered in partnership with Challenge Works. It supports UK AI innovations, which will help tackle some of society’s biggest shared challenges, such as advanced materials development.
The second round of the Manchester Prize was launched in November 2024 and focused on ‘AI for Clean Energy Systems’.
The 10 finalists selected to receive £100,000 will be confirmed in Spring before a panel of judges selects the winner, who will secure a £1m grand prize to support their innovation further.
