Innovation Lead - Frontier AI

The Innovation Lead will play a central role in shaping and delivering Innovate UK's programmes to strengthen the UK's foundational capabilities in AI and digital technologies. The initial focus will be on the Sovereign AI programme, identifying and structuring opportunities that build strategic advantage for the UK in frontier AI technologies and its critical inputs. Over time, the role will help design and deliver a broader portfolio of activities to develop foundational AI capabilities across the UK innovation system, with emphasis on novel AI paradigms and multidisciplinary opportunities with novel compute, cyber and quantum.

Working as part of the AI & Digital team, the role holder will lead the development of innovation programmes, from early opportunity framing through to competition design, portfolio management and impact evaluation. They will work closely with industry, academia, government, and other funders to ensure that Innovate UK's investments are well-targeted, coherent with wider UKRI and government objectives, and capable of unlocking long-term UK capability.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is recognised as one of the six frontier technologies. AI is playing an increasingly crucial role in driving technological advancements and economic growth, transforming entire industries by enhancing efficiencies, enabling innovation and creating new opportunities for businesses and society.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out an ambitious roadmap for the UK to strengthen its global leadership in AI. The main aims are to strengthen the UK's position as a global hub for AI R&D, to maximise the UK's stake in frontier AI, to promote AI adoption in both the public and private sector across the UK with targeted initiatives and to accelerate AI-enabled scientific breakthroughs.

The role holder will operate within the AI & Digital directorate which is part of the Innovate UK Digital and Technologies domain.