UKRI
Gateway route
Rolling deadline; fortnightly batching dates for allocation
Last seen in a scan/import: .
Catalog updated: .
These timestamps are not source verification. Confirm the current deadline and your eligibility on the funder’s call page before applying.
No deadline is on file for this call. Check UKRI's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.
The Gateway route, run by UKRI, provides 10,000 GPU hours of compute time on the Isambard-AI or Zenith AIRR supercomputers for AI research, no cash funding is involved. It is open to UK-based researchers, businesses, charities and not-for-profits, with applications accepted continuously and processed in fortnightly batches. The route suits small-to-medium projects rather than large consortia, and the compute must be used within three months of allocation.
Details
| Funder | UKRI |
| Budget | No funding; compute resource only - 10,000 GPU hours per project |
| Duration | 3 months to use GPU hours; extensions only in exceptional circumstances |
| Consortium | Optional — collaborative projects welcomed but not aimed at large research consortia |
| Application | Single stage: AIRRPortal online application with supporting documents |
| Frequency | Continuous |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Open route for UK-based researchers, businesses, charities and not-for-profits to request 10,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Zenith AIRR supercomputers for AI research; no funding is provided, only compute resource. Non-academic applicants must detail project costs and meet subsidy control support ratios.
Who Should Apply
- •UK-based academic researchers working on AI methods or applications
- •Businesses, charities and not-for-profits with a defined AI compute need
- •Projects needing short-term, high-performance GPU access rather than cash funding
- •Small teams or optional collaborations, not large multi-partner consortia
- •Non-academic applicants able to document project costs and meet subsidy control requirements
Key Dates
- •Rolling deadline with fortnightly batching dates for allocation decisions
- •Single-stage application via the AIRRPortal online system
- •GPU hours must be used within 3 months of allocation; extensions granted only in exceptional circumstances
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Apply well before you need the compute, fortnightly batching means timing your submission to the nearest batch date reduces waiting time.
- ✓Non-academic applicants should prepare a clear cost breakdown and subsidy control support ratio upfront, as this is checked at application.
- ✓Plan your 3-month usage window carefully before applying, since extensions are rarely granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the UKRI Gateway route provide funding?
No, it provides compute resource only, 10,000 GPU hours per project on Isambard-AI or Zenith AIRR, with no cash funding.
Who can apply for the Gateway route?
UK-based researchers, businesses, charities and not-for-profits working on AI research can apply.
How long do I have to use the GPU hours?
Three months from allocation, with extensions granted only in exceptional circumstances.
Is there a deadline for the Gateway route?
No fixed deadline, applications are accepted on a rolling basis and processed in fortnightly batches.
Do I need a consortium to apply?
No, a consortium is optional; collaborative projects are welcomed but the route is not aimed at large research consortia.
Related on Grantsby
- UKRI writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
Similar grants
Rapid Access route
UKRITier-1 Compute Collaborative Grant
FWOHigh Performance Compute Resources for EPSRC Communities
EPSRCDeadline: 27 Oct 2026£20M for compute hardware (FY2026-27) + £5M for resource over four yearsTier-1 Compute Starting Grant
FWOTuring AI World-Leading Researcher Fellowships
EPSRC£3M–£5M (up to £8M total programme)
Browse Related
Could Gateway route be right for you?
See your personalised match score for this grant and others in 30 seconds. No signup needed to preview.
See my matches free →