Empowering scientists to reach for the edge of the possible
Scroll to get to know ARIAARIA is a UK R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone.
Society’s most important advances have stemmed from those willing to think differently about what might be possible.
The Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) empowers scientists and engineers, from our Programme Directors to the teams we fund, with the resources and freedom to pursue breakthroughs at the edge of the possible.
Many will fail to meet their target, but their efforts will inspire the next generation. Those that do succeed will generate massive social and economic returns.
The latest from ARIA
Reimagining Biological Paradigms
A deep dive conversation with PDs Nathan Wolfe and Angie Burnett
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Opportunity spaces
Defined by our Programme Directors, ARIA opportunity spaces are highly consequential for society; under-explored relative to their potential impact; and ripe for new talent, perspectives, or resources to change what’s possible. Each opportunity space represents fertile ground we'll harvest for technical breakthroughs through programme and seed funding.
Click below to discover them all.
Sculpting Innate Immunity
As the body’s first line of defence, the innate immune system has enormous therapeutic potential, sensing and initiating responses to infection, injury, metabolic stress, and chronic degeneration. Modulating innate immunity with precision and control could unlock a new paradigm in human health.
Explore our emerging areas
Our second cohort of Programme Directors has joined ARIA with initial ideas to explore. They'll now embark on a collaborative and intensive discovery process to define our next set of opportunity spaces.
Open calls
Programme Funding
'Late' TA2 Phase 1 applications
In TA2, we will award £18m to a non-profit entity to develop critical machine learning capabilities, requiring strong organisational governance and security standards. TA2 will explore leveraging securely-boxed AI to train autonomous control systems that can be verified against mathematical models, improving performance and robustness. The workflow will involve forking and fine-tuning mainstream pre-trained frontier AI models to create verifiably safeguarded AI solutions. To apply, follow the same instructions as for Phase 1 (see the call for proposals), but limit the submission to 3 pages instead of 4 pages. Email clarifications@aria.org.uk to get an individual application link.
Opportunity space
Mathematics for Safe AI
Programme Director
David 'davidad' Dalrymple
Application Date
17 August 2025
Accessibility support
Accessibility supportFeatured news
High-risk science agency vies to boost healthy life and tackle bio threats
Financial Times
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Catalysing the next trillion pound industries for the UK
BBC: Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
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ARIA's Ilan Gur on backing big breakthroughs
Startup Europe – The Sifted Podcast
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