The new £1 million Manchester Prize has opened and is seeking ideas to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges, using AI.
The Manchester Prize is an initiative of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government. Delivered by The challenge works, this marks the start of a decade-long commitment from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology. In this year’s spring budget, he announced £3.5 billion to make the UK a science and technology “superpower”. This includes implementing a £2.5 billion quantum strategy to attract investment, business and jobs to the UK, and £1 billion to create the next generation of supercomputing research and in AI.
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Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, commented:
“Our ten-year financial commitment to the Manchester Prize will enable the UK to continue to harness the transformative opportunities of AI for the public good. AI is already helping us reduce our carbon emissions, enabling incredible advances in healthcare and even improving our productivity in the workplace. The aim of this award, which is to help address some of society’s most pressing challenges, is a true call to arms for people and organizations from all backgrounds to come up with ingenious solutions.
For the first two years, the award will focus on solutions to energy, environment and infrastructure challenges. This could include using AI technology to support the transition to electric vehicles by optimizing charging methods; reduce household energy consumption by using AI to identify targeted interventions like adding insulation; or help reduce costs for consumers by automating energy-intensive manufacturing processes.
Price details
The inaugural Manchester Prize will run until March 2025. Applications are encouraged from UK-based businesses, not-for-profit organizations and universities, with a deadline of 1 February 2024. In April, Up to 10 applications will be selected to advance, and each finalist will win a £100,000 prize to develop their ideas into a working prototype. One of these teams will win the £1 million grand prize.
Finalists and the ultimate grand prize winner will be chosen based on five judging criteria: how innovative their solution is compared to current state-of-the-art technology, impact of the solution, long-term viability, the feasibility of delivering a working prototype, and evidence of safe and ethical development of AI.
Manchester Prize finalists will also receive non-financial support, including a set of free computing power to deliver their solutions. They will also interact with key stakeholders, potential investors and users of their technology in the public and private sectors, to share knowledge and encourage collaboration.
Individuals and organizations can enter the Manchester Prize any time between today and midnight GMT on 1 February 2024 by completing the form Registration Form.
About Mélanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and editor specializing in writing for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be contacted via thepurplepim.com.
