Society’s most important advances have stemmed from those willing to think differently about what might be possible.
\nThe 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.
\nMany 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.
","link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more about ARIA","href":"/about-aria","title":""},"color":null,"isWhiteText":false,"fullWidth":false},{"type":"rich-text-content","text":"The latest from ARIA
","mediumLayout":false,"fullWidth":false},{"type":"cards","title":"","link":null,"isCarousel":false,"items":[{"image":{"src":"/media/wqrj20u0/scoping-our-planet-opportunity-space.jpg?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1db669972d12460","alt":"A graphic saying 'Scoping Our Planet' and 'opportunity space' with a graphic of a camera lens."},"title":"Scoping Our Planet","text":"Dive into the expanded opportunity space","link":{"isActive":false,"text":"Discover more","href":"/opportunity-spaces/scoping-our-planet","title":""},"color":"","date":"18 June 2025","tag":"","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/hl5hdrcr/ant-extended.png?rxy=0.45304648786895274,0.4998875350403271&width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdadc19562d60","alt":"Headshot of Ant Rowstron"},"title":"Welcoming our inaugural CTO","text":"Ant Rowstron joins ARIA","link":{"isActive":false,"text":"Learn more ","href":"/about-aria/our-team#executiveteam","title":"about our new CTO"},"color":"","date":"11 June 2025","tag":"","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/r4rc50k0/aria-_web_16by9_cards-sculpting_innate_immunity2_720.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbd48ff5f55730","alt":"Aria Web 16By9 Cards Sculpting Innate Immunity2 720"},"title":"Sculpting Innate Immunity","text":"Explore our latest opportunity space","link":{"isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity","title":"explore the Sculpting Innate Immunity opportunity space"},"color":"","date":"04 June 2025","tag":"","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false}]},{"type":"spacer-comp","cssSizeClass":"medium","height":0},{"type":"opportunity-space","title":"Opportunity spaces","intro":"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. ","links":[],"navTitle":"Discover our opportunity spaces below:","items":[{"title":"Sculpting Innate Immunity","text":"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 accuracy could unlock a new paradigm in human health.
","image":{"src":"/media/1p0jpenj/sculptinginnateimmunity_opheader.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"Sculptinginnateimmunity Opheader"},"link":{"isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity","title":"explore the Sculpting Innate Immunity opportunity space"}},{"title":"Bioenergetic Engineering","text":"Genetic engineering now lets us control life’s information, yet the engineering of life’s energy remains underdeveloped. A powerful set of new tools could bridge the gap, enabling breakthroughs ranging from treatments for neurodegenerative disease to biohybrid solutions for environmental remediation and resilience.
","image":{"src":"/media/vtjlbmtg/cropv7.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"Butterfly"},"link":{"isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/bioenergetic-engineering","title":"about the Bioenergetic Engineering opportunity space"}},{"title":"Scoping Our Planet","text":"Programme: Forecasting Tipping Points
\nCurrent climate measurements fail to provide the coverage, resolution or sensitivity necessary to adequately and effectively respond to the climate crisis. What if we could precisely monitor and predict the effects of climate change across the globe?
","image":{"src":"/media/h2zhhkb3/aria_scopingourplanet.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"A graphic of half of a camera lens."},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/scoping-our-planet","title":"about the Scoping Our Planet opportunity space"}},{"title":"Scalable Neural Interfaces","text":"Programme: Precision Neurotechnologies
\nNeurological and neuropsychiatric disorders have enormous social and economic impacts. What if we could solve the mysteries of neurological disorders and mental health by interfacing with the brain in new ways?
","image":{"src":"/media/lgmkvrf4/frame-54.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":" A cut-out graphic of half of a brain. "},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/scalable-neural-interfaces","title":"about the Scalable Neural Interfaces opportunity space"}},{"title":"Programmable Plants ","text":"\nToday’s agricultural system is struggling with the dual challenge of sustainable food supply and stable climate. What if we could programme plants to remove more CO₂, fight drought, and deliver medicines to those in need?
","image":{"src":"/media/msfpn3xm/programmable_plants.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"A cut-out photo of a piece of corn."},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/programmable-plants","title":"about the Programmable Plants opportunity space"}},{"title":"Mathematics for Safe AI ","text":"\nAs AI becomes more capable, it has the potential to power scientific breakthroughs, enhance global prosperity, and safeguard us from disasters – but only if it’s deployed wisely. What if we could use advanced AI to drastically improve our ability to model and control everything from the electricity grid to our immune systems?
","image":{"src":"/media/zapflnbs/mathematics-for-safe-ai-cropped.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"A graphic of abstract 3D shapes."},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/mathematics-for-safe-ai","title":"about the Mathematics for Safe AI opportunity space"}},{"title":"Smarter Robot Bodies","text":"\nBetween 2000 and 2100, the proportion of the world population aged 65 and older will triple, bringing with it increasing labour shortages, especially for physically demanding work. What if we could create robots with the grace and robustness of biological organisms to ease the labour challenges of tomorrow?
","image":{"src":"/media/dgol3oqt/smarter-robot-bodies.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"Half of a cut-out graphic of a robot arm. "},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/smarter-robot-bodies","title":"about the Smarter Robot Bodies opportunity space"}},{"title":"Nature Computes Better","text":"\nFrom improving our understanding of how proteins fold, to building self-driving cars, transformative new capabilities arise with more computing power. What if we could exploit principles found in natural systems to build dramatically more efficient computers?
","image":{"src":"/media/5hrfey10/nature-computes-better.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"A graphic of a half of a computer chip."},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/nature-computes-better","title":"about the Nature Computes Better opportunity space"}},{"title":"Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather","text":"Programme: Exploring Climate Cooling
\nEven if we stopped burning fossil fuels tomorrow and no more CO₂ from human activity entered the atmosphere, the world would continue to warm. What if we could prevent climate tipping points to avert disaster?
","image":{"src":"/media/xczp3hgi/future-proofing-our-climate-and-weather.png?rmode=pad&format=webp&quality=100","alt":"A cut-out photo of a half of the Earth."},"link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Discover more ","href":"/opportunity-spaces/future-proofing-our-climate-and-weather","title":"about the Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather opportunity space"}}],"hideGradient":true},{"type":"spacer-comp","cssSizeClass":"medium","height":0},{"type":"standout-copy","title":"Explore our emerging areas","text":"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.
","link":{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Find out more ","href":"/emerging-areas#secondcohort","title":"Explore our emerging areas"},"color":"99e0d9","isWhiteText":false,"fullWidth":false},{"type":"spacer-comp","cssSizeClass":"medium","height":0},{"type":"rich-text-content","text":"Open calls
","mediumLayout":false,"fullWidth":false},{"type":"open-call-list","firstColumn":"","dateTitle":"Application Date","title":"","text":"","dateHasColumn":false,"items":[{"title":"Safeguarded AI: 'Late' TA2 Phase 1 applications","text":"In TA2, we will award £18m to a non-profit entity to develop critical machine learning capabilities, requiring strong organisational governance and security standards. Phase 1, backed by £1M, will fund up to 5 teams to spend 3.5 months to develop full Phase 2 proposals. Phase 2 — which will open on 25 June 2025 —will fund a single group, for £18M, to deliver the research agenda. 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.","date":"17 August 2025","type":"Programme Funding","typeColour":"blue","links":[{"isActive":false,"text":"Learn more about the funding call","href":"/opportunity-spaces/mathematics-for-safe-ai/safeguarded-ai/funding","title":""}],"info":[{"title":"Opportunity space","text":"Mathematics for Safe AI"},{"title":"Programme","text":"Safeguarded AI"},{"title":"Programme Director","text":"David 'davidad' Dalrymple"}],"resources":[],"resourceButtonText":"Resources"}]},{"type":"cards","title":"Featured news + insights","link":null,"isCarousel":false,"items":[{"image":{"src":"/media/fn1jhngi/pillar-vc-pic.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdf9a39256030","alt":"Pillar VC Pic"},"title":"UK Gov to fund expansion of Encode: AI for Science","text":"Pillar VC","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more","href":"https://encode.pillar.vc/blog-posts/uk-gov-to-fund-expansion-of-pillar-vcs-encode-program","title":""},"color":"","date":"10 June 2025","tag":"Announcements","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/svilqygq/aicontrolsafetycriticalsystems_fortune.webp?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdad9ebded7d0","alt":"Nuclear power plant with cooling towers and transmission lines"},"title":"Can AI be used to control safety critical systems? ","text":"Fortune","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://fortune.com/2025/06/10/aria-safeguarded-ai-safety-critical-systems-davidad-eye-on-ai/","title":"on fortune.com"},"color":"","date":"10 June 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/kbxdu0cq/angienathanpranay-1.jpg?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbda1411b0eb90","alt":"Angie Nathan Pranay"},"title":"In conversation: reimagining biological paradigms","text":"ARIA Substack","link":{"isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://ariaresearch.substack.com/p/reimagining-biological-paradigms","title":"on ARIA's Substack"},"color":"","date":"02 June 2025","tag":"Insights","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/1ikmiid4/robotstheobserver.webp?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdad9c676e280","alt":"Robot hand holding a red apple"},"title":"Robots to be given tactile ‘skin’ and dexterous hands","text":"The Observer","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://observer.co.uk/news/business/article/robots-to-be-given-tactile-skin-and-dexterous-hands","title":"on observer.co.uk"},"color":"","date":"02 June 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/104bikv2/pd-cohort-2-mosaic.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbcaf7aca1a850","alt":"PD Cohort 2 Mosaic"},"title":"How we found our new Programme Directors","text":"ARIA Substack","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://ariaresearch.substack.com/p/how-we-found-our-new-programme-directors","title":"on ARIA's Substack"},"color":"","date":"07 April 2025","tag":"Insights","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/i1whgb44/financial-times-image-pd-cohort-2.jpeg?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dba7b3c05f7eb0","alt":"Financial Times Image PD Cohort 2"},"title":"ARIA seeks to boost healthy life + tackle bio threats","text":"Financial Times","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://www.ft.com/content/6591c052-a33f-4386-9975-7ff4b6bafaec","title":"in the Financial Times"},"color":"","date":"07 April 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/a1wbk4eb/discoveryconnectioncreation.webp?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdad9b2464670","alt":"Creators on a panel at the Scaling Compute workshop"},"title":"Discovery, connection, creation: inside our workshops","text":"ARIA Substack","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://ariaresearch.substack.com/p/discovery-connection-creation-inside","title":"on ARIA's Substack"},"color":"","date":"06 March 2025","tag":"Insights","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/i2ohxpwt/guardian-image.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1db895f9be2ebc0","alt":"Guardian Image"},"title":"Early climate tipping point warning system gets £81m start","text":"The Guardian","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/18/early-warning-system-for-climate-tipping-points-given-81m-kickstart","title":"on TheGuardian.com"},"color":"","date":"18 February 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/safplsby/ilan-laura-k.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1db8960b51130b0","alt":"Ilan Laura K"},"title":"Catalysing the next trillion pound industries for the UK","text":"BBC: Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Watch now ","href":"https://account.bbc.com/account/profile-picker?ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fepisode%2Fm00283qq%2Fsunday-with-laura-kuenssberg-16022025","title":"on BBC iPlayer"},"color":"","date":"16 February 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false},{"image":{"src":"/media/0d3bftjj/seth-bannon-5050-headshot-edited.png?width=900&height=506&format=webp&v=1dbdae4ca3d3850","alt":"Seth Bannon 5050 Headshot Edited"},"title":"The deeptech company builder coming to the UK","text":"Sifted","link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Read more ","href":"https://sifted.eu/articles/deeptech-company-builder-yc-uk","title":"on sifted.eu"},"color":"","date":"05 February 2025","tag":"News","fullImage":false,"fontWhite":false}]},{"type":"spacer-comp","cssSizeClass":"medium","height":0}],"scriptsAtTop":" \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","scriptsAtBottom":"","id":1217,"languageCode":"en","pageName":"Home","scrollSmoothness":0.0,"gtmCode":"GTM-T8Z5F55","topNav":{"logo":{"text":"ARIA - Home","href":"/media/hsxblxrf/logo-aria-black.svg"},"nodes":[{"text":"About us","href":null,"target":null,"id":null,"nodes":[{"text":"About us","href":"/about-aria","target":null,"id":"2207","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Our team","href":"/about-aria/our-team","target":null,"id":"2159","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Programme Directors","href":"/about-aria/our-team/programme-directors","target":null,"id":"2831","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Reporting and policies","href":"/about-aria/reporting-and-policies","target":null,"id":"2160","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false}],"noOpener":true,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"What we do","href":null,"target":null,"id":null,"nodes":[{"text":"How we work","href":"/how-we-work","target":null,"id":"2817","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Live opportunity spaces","href":"/opportunity-spaces","target":null,"id":"2215","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Emerging areas","href":"/emerging-areas","target":null,"id":"2963","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Activation Partners","href":"/activation-partners","target":null,"id":"2174","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false}],"noOpener":true,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Funding","href":null,"target":null,"id":null,"nodes":[{"text":"Funding opportunities","href":"/funding-opportunities","target":null,"id":"2164","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Applicant guidance","href":"/funding-opportunities/applicant-guidance","target":null,"id":"2162","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Being funded by ARIA","href":"/funding-opportunities/the-creator-experience","target":null,"id":"2433","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"FAQs","href":"/funding-opportunities/faqs","target":null,"id":"2649","nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false}],"noOpener":true,"noReferrer":false},{"text":"Careers","href":"https://aria-jobs.teamtailor.com/","target":"_blank","id":null,"nodes":[],"noOpener":false,"noReferrer":false}],"headerLinks":[{"target":"","isActive":false,"text":"Become a Programme Director","href":"/about-aria/our-team/programme-directors/cohort-3","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Opportunity spaces","href":"/opportunity-spaces","title":""}],"menuLinks":[{"isActive":false,"text":"Contact us","href":"/contact","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Terms of use","href":"/terms-and-conditions","title":""}],"activeItem":"1217","menuText":"Menu","menuTextClose":"Close menu","search":{"isActive":false,"text":"Search","href":"/search","title":""},"animationOffText":"Motion: Off","animationOnText":"Motion: On"},"footer":{"header":"Help us drive momentum ","text":"ARIA is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation + Technology.","copyright":"Copyright 2026","headerLinks":[{"isActive":false,"text":"Contact","href":"/contact","title":""},{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Careers","href":"https://aria-jobs.teamtailor.com/","title":""}],"socialHeader":"Follow our progress","footerLinks":[{"isActive":false,"text":"Privacy Policy","href":"/privacy-policy","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Terms and Conditions","href":"/terms-and-conditions","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Cookie Policy","href":"/cookie-policy","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Accessibility Statement","href":"/accessibility-statement","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Accessibility Support","href":"/funding-opportunities/accessibility-support","title":""},{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"Careers","href":"https://aria-jobs.teamtailor.com/","title":""},{"isActive":false,"text":"Supply to us","href":"/supply-to-us","title":""}],"socialItems":[{"link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"ARIA Research Twitter","href":"https://x.com/aria_research","title":""},"type":"x"},{"link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"LinkedIn","href":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-research-and-invention-agency","title":""},"type":"Linkedin"},{"link":{"target":"_blank","isActive":true,"text":"ARIA Research Substack","href":"https://ariaresearch.substack.com/","title":""},"type":"SubStack"}],"formText":"","formSubmit":"Sign up","formId":"","recaptchaSiteKey":"6LcuyY4bAAAAAE2OzRFfA7vDWyohfZXyl2uTuHLa","verificationToken":"","redirectUrl":null,"submitMessage":"","formTheme":""},"seo":{"title":"Home","description":"Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone.","keywords":"research funding agency science technology tech development climate crisis artificial intelligence","includeInSitemapXml":true,"canonicalTag":""},"sharing":{"og":[{"property":"og:title","content":"Home"},{"property":"og:description","content":"Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone."},{"property":"og:image","content":"https://aria.org.uk/media/y5dpm50c/aria-home.jpg?width=600&format=webp&quality=100&v=1dbc0018ba66600"},{"property":"og:url","content":"https://aria.org.uk/home"}],"twitter":[{"name":"twitter:card","content":"summary_large_image"},{"name":"twitter:site","content":"@ARIA_research"},{"name":"twitter:title","content":"Home"},{"name":"twitter:description","content":"Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone."},{"name":"twitter:image","content":"https://aria.org.uk/media/y5dpm50c/aria-home.jpg?width=600&format=webp&quality=100&v=1dbc0018ba66600"},{"name":"twitter:url","content":"https://aria.org.uk/home"}]},"pageType":"contentPage"}