Scaling Trust
Backed by nearly £50m, this programme sits within the Trust Everything, Everywhere opportunity space and seeks to create the capability for AI agents to securely coordinate, negotiate, and verify with one another on our behalf.
Funding: Tracks 2 & 3
Applications are open on a rolling basis and reviewed in quarterly batches. The next proposal cut-off is 31 October 2026 (14:00 GMT).
We're accepting proposals across two tracks. In Track 2 (Tooling), we're funding open-source agents and reusable components – spanning requirement capture, negotiation, security reasoning, and verifiable reporting – that will provide the baseline infrastructure usable by all in the Arena and beyond. In Track 3 (Fundamental Research), we're funding foundational work across Formal AI Security, Cyber-Physical Primitives, Foundations of Generative Security, and open-ended Bluesky research – including three Research Centres to seed long-term nodes of expertise and anchor these emerging fields in the UK.
What we're looking for
We welcome applications from across the R&D ecosystem, including individuals, universities, research institutions, companies of all sizes, charities and public sector research organisations. What matters most to us is whether you're excited about the programme and its thesis. Before applying, we encourage you to read the call for proposals in full alongside the programme thesis, and to check our community website – it captures our most up-to-date thinking, including emerging areas of interest, lessons from the developing portfolio, and areas where further proposals would be especially valuable.
Join a team
For those seeking specific expertise to support their proposal, our teaming request form gives you access to a list of others looking to find or share their expertise, plus a dedicated teaming channel on our community Discord.
How to apply
Applications may be submitted at any time while the call is open, and are reviewed in quarterly batches.
Key dates for the current cycle:
Applications open: 4 September 2026
Proposal cut-off: 31 October 2026
Review period: 1–30 November 2026
Applicant notification: 30 November 2026
Proposals submitted after a cut-off will roll into the following quarterly cycle. ARIA expects to fund a small number of projects through this route and may choose not to make awards in a given review cycle. We may update cut-off dates, pause the call, or close it early if needed.
Read the call for proposals and apply below.