Manchester Prize: Clean Energy Systems (Round 2) – UK

Every year for a decade, it is rewarding innovations that will help to transform the lives of people across the UK and continue to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting-edge innovation.

Challenges

• The second Manchester Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful AI solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards a net zero energy system. Solutions should demonstrate use of AI that delivers on at least one of the following:
  • accelerates the UK’s adoption of clean energy technologies at scale,
  • enables efficient or low-cost operations of clean energy systems,
  • significantly reduces energy demand, or optimises energy usage.
• The winning solution will demonstrate not only technical innovation but also an evidenced road map to near-term (2030) adoption and scale.

Funding Information

• Up to 10 of the most promising solutions will each be supported with £100,000 in seed funding, up to £60,000 of compute and additional non-financial support to develop products and services capable of winning the £1 million grand prize in spring 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible entrants: Entries must come from organisations legally incorporated in the UK (e.g. private limited companies, non-profits, charities, universities). They will not accept applications from individuals or unincorporated groups.
• Geographical scope: The lead entrant organisation must be based in the United Kingdom and must be able to receive funds into a UK bank account in the name of the lead entrant. Organisations other than the lead entrant organisation may be based outside of the UK.
• Consortia entries: Teams may enter as a consortium but must nominate one organisation as the lead entrant to submit the application. The lead entrant organisation representing finalist teams will be the organisation that enters into contracts and receives funding from the Manchester Prize.
• Previous Manchester Prize finalists: Finalists from the first Manchester Prize are eligible to participate if submitting a new and original solution, which is distinct from their first Manchester Prize submission.
• Employees of Challenge Works and DSIT prohibited: Employees of Challenge Works (Nesta, or any company within the same group) or DSIT, and any immediate family of those employees, and any other individuals working on, or connected to, the prize are not eligible to enter.
• Conflicts of interest: Any conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest, as more particularly detailed in the terms and conditions, may result in a participant being disqualified from participation. Conflicts of interest must be declared and mitigation agreed with Challenge Works.

For more information, visit DSIT.