Funding opportunities
We're funding research at the edge of what is technologically or scientifically possible.
Types of funding
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Programmes (£10m–100m) Our programmes are designed to advance complex, large-scale ideas which require coordinated investment and management across disciplines and institutions. To build a programme, each Programme Director directs the review, selection, and funding of a portfolio of projects which work in tandem to drive breakthroughs. |
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Opportunity seeds (up to £500k) With smaller budgets and less structure than programmes, seeds support individual research teams to uncover new pathways that could inspire future programmes or might justify additional support as a standalone project. |
Funding calls
These calls are currently open for applications – make sure to read the calls for proposals before applying.
Programme Funding
Enduring Atmospheric Platforms: Full proposals
ARIA is launching a programme backed by at least £50 million to unlock the stratosphere as a persistent operating environment. The goal is to solve the interdependent challenges of flight and energy to create a resilient and sustainable platform layer between Earth and space. Success will be measured by a single, galvanising demonstration: keeping a platform aloft for one week while maintaining line-of-sight to a fixed ground point and continuously powering a 300W payload. This technical breakthrough will provide the physical backbone required for next-generation advanced communications, serving as a critical enabler for the projected £13–20 trillion annual economic potential of AI.
Opportunity space
Scoping Our Planet
Programme Director
Rico Chandra
Deadline
02 April 2026
Programme Funding
Scaling Trust: Multi-Agent Security Arena
We are now looking for a partner to co-design, build and maintain the Scaling Trust Arena, which we plan to launch in Q3 2026. Acting as an extension of the Scaling Trust programme team, this partner will be capable of operating at pace, to deliver a robust, modular testing ground that can move from prototype to public operation over the course of the programme. The ideal partner will help shape the Arena’s fundamental mechanisms including challenge design, scoring systems and community interfaces, whilst ensuring the platform remains secure, observable and accessible to a global community of participants.
Opportunity space
Trust Everything, Everywhere
Programme Director
Alex Obadia
Deadline
14 April 2026
Opportunity Seed
Rolling opportunity seeds
Building on our previous funding calls for opportunity seed projects, we’re launching an open rolling call for proposals as an experiment across multiple opportunity spaces. We’re keen to learn from this process and use the lessons to make future calls stronger and more effective. We're looking to fund projects within the Mathematics for Safe AI, Nature Computes Better, Scoping Our Planet and Scalable Neural Interfaces opportunity spaces, with up to £500k each.
Opportunity spaces
Mathematics for Safe AI, Nature Computes Better, Scoping Our Planet, Scalable Neural Interfaces
Application date
Rolling
Accessibility support
If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, ARIA can offer support to help you with our funding application process or when you are carrying out your project.
How we work
We seek out exceptional scientists and engineers and empower them to turn their ideas into reality.
Sign up for updates
Keep up-to-date on our latest opportunity spaces, programmes and funding calls.