Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies: highlight notice

You must meet the eligibility criteria for the specific funding opportunity you are applying to.

Before applying for funding, check the .

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

For full details, visit .

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) recognises the strategic importance to the UK of five critical technologies:

• future telecommunications
• semiconductors
• AI
• engineering biology
• quantum technologies

These have been selected for their ability to build strategic advantage, create opportunities for growth, and capitalise on existing UK strengths.

During the highlight period MRC particularly welcomes applications from teams that are applying AI, engineering biology or quantum technologies, to better enable them to meet relevant MRC board and panel and cross-cutting .

AI is considered here to be machines that perform tasks normally performed by human intelligence, especially when the machines learn from data how to do those tasks.

You should be clear on the biomedical research challenge to be addressed, how use of AI will deliver impact beyond incremental optimisation of current systems, and where, if applicable complementarity exists with UKRI strategies (for example ) and existing investments in the same area (for example ).

You should also consider, where applicable, how the AI tools developed will act as a platform for future applications in biomedical research, for example underpinning future research or infrastructure, including through generalizable approaches.

The design and fabrication of biological components and systems, from modifications of natural systems through to artificial biology, in order to enhance our understanding of human health and disease or in the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines

Applications focused on utilisation of quantum sensing technologies aimed at improving diagnostics for early detection of disease, biomarker identification and increasing understanding of physiological systems in diseased states.

You should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in your application summary.

You can search the for the following funding opportunities where this highlight notice is relevant:

• research, programme, partnership and new investigator grants from MRC responsive mode research boards or research grants from translational panels:

This highlight notice will be open from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Applications submitted in this window will be considered for this highlight opportunity. For individual application closing dates refer to the relevant MRC funding opportunity.

You should apply through the relevant MRC funding opportunity that is most appropriate for your science area and career stage.

Applications will use the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

You should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in your application summary.

We will assess your application using the following process.

All applications received under this highlight notice will be assessed by the relevant MRC research board or panel through .

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section in the relevant funding opportunity.

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

Important note: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this highlight notice, please refer to the specific funding opportunity for the appropriate contact details.

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.