£80m challenge for faster, better dementia diagnosis launched

The Dementia Challenge is accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies and practices that will diagnose and predict how the disease will progress. Nine new technologies, including faster MRI brain scans and a remote cognitive assessment, will be tested in the NHS as part of a government drive to diagnose dementia faster. Backed by up to £80 million, the goal is for 92% of people to be diagnosed within 18 weeks of a referral, up from around 60% today with diagnosis often taking more than a year. The projects will undergo…

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UKRI launches two AI research labs to stay ahead in global race

Two new labs will back British researchers to develop next generation artificial intelligence (AI) systems, helping secure the UK’s position as a global leader. Backed by a £60 million investment, one lab will focus on creating open-source AI that can run on widely available hardware. The other will pioneer new approaches enabling AI to learn without vast centralised computing power. The two UK AI research labs will be led by University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford. The labs will work in collaboration with partners including the universities…

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First projects funded by Local Innovation Partnership Fund

£30 million has been earmarked for Liverpool City Region (LCR) to boost high-potential innovation clusters. The first two projects to be funded in the LCR through UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF) have been announced. Led by the University of Liverpool, they are set to receive £23.7 million. The funding has been agreed locally by the LCR Local Innovation Partnership Group, and is the first allocation from £30 million earmarked for the City Region in July 2025. Led by UKRI, the national £500 million LIPF is…

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New Research and Innovation Challenge to improve home learning environment

Part of the government’s Opportunity Mission to remove barriers to opportunity, the challenge supports the target for 75% of children to be school ready by 2028. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) today announced a new research and innovation (R&I) challenge: The Home Learning Environment R&I Challenge. UKRI has committed £31.9 million through the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme. Delivered in partnership with the Department for Education, and forming part of the government’s mission to Break Down Barriers to Opportunity. Power of research and innovation The Home Learning Environment Challenge will harness the power…

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£50m research and innovation programme launched to make Britain’s streets safer for everyone

New research and innovation programme set as part of the Safer Streets Mission. Funding to go to projects to help reduce violence against women and girls, and knife crime. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched five Safer Streets Challenges backed by £50 million of funding, as part of the government’s £500 million Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme (R&D MAP). This will bring together researchers, innovators, communities, policing and frontline practitioners to tackle the crimes that affect people’s daily lives, using research and innovation to create solutions. The R&D…

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