Researcher
Start with ACCESS Explore for eligible US research, AIRR Gateway for UK AI testing, or EuroHPC AI for Science for eligible European research. Check each route's organisation and country rules.
Democratising compute
Free and funded compute
Find a practical route to compute through research allocations, startup credits or free notebooks. Start with your situation, then check eligibility and the official next step.
Student or individual
Try interactive code in Colab's free notebooks. Eligible US graduate students can also lead an ACCESS Explore project; undergraduates need an eligible lead.
Startup
Compare UK AIRR, European AI Factories and cloud-credit programmes. Region, company stage, workload and billing conditions determine which fits.
Upcoming application window
Upcoming window: GCS next large-scale application window Checked 13 November 2026.
Researchers at German universities and publicly funded German research institutions. Prepare for the official window from 11 January to 15 February 2027, closing at 17:00 CET; the allocation period is May 2027 to April 2028.
This forthcoming large-scale window is separate from rolling regular or preparation routes. Awards depend on scientific and technical review. Official source and next step
Upcoming window: ACCESS Maximize: next request window Checked 13 November 2026.
Researchers preparing a large resource request. Prepare for the 15 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 submission window; awards are scheduled to start on 1 April 2027.
The 13 November check predates this window. Smaller ACCESS project types have separate application routes. Official source and next step
Compare the programme directory
52 programme records, with open routes first, unverified records clearly marked, and closed calls below. Status checks are separate from older programme detail dates. Open status needs another check after 30 days; a forthcoming window is not automatically declared open when its start date arrives.
Credits and allocations are not cash or guaranteed hardware. Some routes require billing accounts or a paid plan; some allocations charge for resources. Check covered services, expiry, charges and eligibility before committing.
Need help choosing? Use the funded-access chooser, finance and access guide or services and support.
Region is the programme's recorded region, not a decision about your eligibility. Audience filters cover the source-checked starting routes, not every possible eligible programme. Clear that filter to explore the full directory. Read each programme's eligibility and current terms.
Showing 7 of 52 programmes.
Compare recorded eligibility and resources below. Open a programme record for its full evidence, application steps and limits, then confirm current conditions with the official programme.
Open at latest check
Application status is dated below. Open applications do not guarantee an award, your eligibility or available hardware.
National AI resource
| Programme and recorded region | Who can apply | Recorded resources | Evidence and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK AI Research Resource: Gateway route UK Open at latest check | UK-based researchers at UK registered businesses of any size, charities, not-for-profits and UKRI-eligible research organisations. The project lead needs a contract longer than the proposed project. | Up to 10,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Zenith for first-time users, testing and benchmarking, with no cash funding and a three-month use period. Confirm the exact start and expiry in the award terms. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR Gateway: Read the Gateway guidance and submit a self-contained application through AIRRPortal. UKRI lists no closing date. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: open at latest check. Programme details checked 13 November 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
| UK AI Research Resource: Rapid Access route UK Open at latest check | UK registered micro, small or medium-sized businesses with a Companies House number. | 20,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Zenith, with no funding attached and a three-month use period. Confirm the exact start and expiry in the award terms. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR Rapid Access: Read the eligibility guidance and apply through AIRRPortal for Isambard-AI or Zenith. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: open at latest check. Programme details checked 13 November 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
Full recorded evidence and application steps for national ai resource
UK AI Research Resource: Gateway route
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK-based researchers at UK registered businesses of any size, charities, not-for-profits and UKRI-eligible research organisations. The project lead needs a contract longer than the proposed project.
What you get: Up to 10,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Zenith for first-time users, testing and benchmarking, with no cash funding and a three-month use period. Confirm the exact start and expiry in the award terms.
How to apply: Submit an online form and supporting documents through the AIRR Portal; applications must be self-contained with no external links.
Open at latest check: UK AIRR Gateway Checked 13 November 2026.
UK-based researchers at eligible research organisations, businesses, charities or not-for-profits, testing or benchmarking AI work. Read the Gateway guidance and submit a self-contained application through AIRRPortal. UKRI lists no closing date.
A project lead needs a contract longer than the project. Compute is provided rather than cash; non-academic project-cost and subsidy conditions apply. Confirm the award's start and expiry. Official source and next step
Deadline UKRI lists the Gateway route as open with no closing date at the 13 November 2026 check.
- The UKRI opportunity is open with no closing date and points applicants to AIRRPortal. Source
- Applications normally receive a light-touch review each month, with a target maximum of two months from submission to resource access. Source
- The guidance names airr@ukri.org for questions and was last updated on 28 September 2026. Source
Checked 13 November 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
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UK AI Research Resource: Rapid Access route
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK registered micro, small or medium-sized businesses with a Companies House number.
What you get: 20,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Zenith, with no funding attached and a three-month use period. Confirm the exact start and expiry in the award terms.
How to apply: Apply through the AIRR Portal with the required supporting documents.
Open at latest check: UK AIRR Rapid Access Checked 13 November 2026.
UK-registered micro, small and medium businesses developing AI products before market launch. Read the eligibility guidance and apply through AIRRPortal for Isambard-AI or Zenith.
Compute only, with no cash funding. A Companies House number is required; project and subsidy conditions apply. No closing date is listed. Official source and next step
No future deadline recorded
- The opportunity is open with no closing date. UKRI aims to assess applications weekly, with a maximum time to resource access of two weeks after submission. Source
- It supports feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development. Source
Checked 13 November 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .
Public supercomputing
| Programme and recorded region | Who can apply | Recorded resources | Evidence and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCHER2 access routes UK Open at latest check | Pump Priming is for researchers in EPSRC's remit; the Driving Test is for new users; NERC and commercial routes are described on the page. | Testing and porting allocations, subject to the service ending. The official page warns that access is scheduled to end at 17:00 GMT on 20 November 2026 and is not guaranteed afterwards. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme ARCHER2 Pump Priming: near service end: The page lists Pump Priming as always open and directs applicants to its technical-assessment form and service desk. Confirm feasibility before applying. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: open at latest check. Programme details checked 13 November 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
Full recorded evidence and application steps for public supercomputing
ARCHER2 access routes
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: Pump Priming is for researchers in EPSRC's remit; the Driving Test is for new users; NERC and commercial routes are described on the page.
What you get: Testing and porting allocations, subject to the service ending. The official page warns that access is scheduled to end at 17:00 GMT on 20 November 2026 and is not guaranteed afterwards.
How to apply: Check the service-end warning before choosing a route. Pump Priming uses a technical-assessment form sent to the service desk; confirm that a new allocation is feasible.
Open at latest check: ARCHER2 Pump Priming: near service end Checked 13 November 2026.
UK EPSRC-remit researchers testing or porting code. The page lists Pump Priming as always open and directs applicants to its technical-assessment form and service desk. Confirm feasibility before applying.
The same page warns that access is scheduled to end at 17:00 GMT on 20 November 2026 and is not guaranteed afterwards. Do not plan a new long-running allocation from the generic scheme duration. Official source and next step
Deadline Scheduled service end: 20 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT. This is not an application deadline or a guarantee of provision until that time.
- Pump Priming is listed as always open for EPSRC-remit research, but the page also warns of the scheduled 20 November service end. Source
Checked 13 November 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .
Closed / historical
Past calls are preserved for reference. A recorded closure is not evidence that a new round is open.
National AI resource
| Programme and recorded region | Who can apply | Recorded resources | Evidence and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK AI Research Resource: AI Open Access call (Isambard-AI) UK Closed / historical | UK-based researchers and AI developers from academia, industry, the public sector, charities and not-for-profits, with project leads in a lasting relationship with their organisation. | Between 50,000 and 1,400,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI over six or twelve months, with no direct funding. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR AI Open Access: closed round: UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 17 July 2026 at 16:00 UK time. Compare the currently checked Gateway route for smaller test projects. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: closed / historical. Programme details checked 3 October 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
| UK AI Research Resource: Innovator Route (Isambard-AI and Dawn) UK Closed / historical | UK-registered businesses, research organisations, charities and non-profits; project leads need a contract longer than the project and, for academic-led projects, lecturer level or equivalent. Prior AIRR Gateway or Rapid Access experience is expected, or a probationary first month applies. | Between 50,000 and 150,000 GPU hours over a six-month project period, with no funding attached; the page gives an indicative budget of 2,000,000 GPU hours across both systems. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR Innovator: closed round: UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 16 January 2026 at 16:00 UK time. Compare the currently checked Gateway route for smaller test projects. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: closed / historical. Programme details checked 3 October 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
| UK AI Research Resource: AI for Science compute opportunity UK Closed / historical | UK-based researchers from academia, industry or other organisations; organisations must be UK-registered businesses, UKRI-eligible research institutions, charities or non-profits, and academic project leads need lecturer level or equivalent. An individual may lead only one application. | Between 200,000 and 1,000,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Dawn over a six-month project period; the page says no funding is provided. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR AI for Science: closed round: UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 21 December 2025 at 16:00 UK time. Compare current access routes before preparing an application. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: closed / historical. Programme details checked 3 October 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
Full recorded evidence and application steps for national ai resource
UK AI Research Resource: AI Open Access call (Isambard-AI)
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK-based researchers and AI developers from academia, industry, the public sector, charities and not-for-profits, with project leads in a lasting relationship with their organisation.
What you get: Between 50,000 and 1,400,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI over six or twelve months, with no direct funding.
How to apply: Historical process for the closed round: submit through AIRRPortal and take part in distributed peer review. This is not an invitation to apply now.
Closed / historical: UK AIRR AI Open Access: closed round Checked 13 November 2026.
Historical UK AI research allocation call. UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 17 July 2026 at 16:00 UK time. Compare the currently checked Gateway route for smaller test projects.
The recorded allocation and application process describe the past round. No replacement large-project round is confirmed here. Official source and next step
No future deadline recorded
- This round opened 4 June 2026 and closed at 4:00pm UK time on 17 July 2026, so it is now closed. Source
- The page gives an indicative total budget of up to 8,000,000 GPU hours across all projects and lists priority areas including AI for scientific discovery and medical research. Source
Checked 3 October 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .
UK AI Research Resource: Innovator Route (Isambard-AI and Dawn)
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK-registered businesses, research organisations, charities and non-profits; project leads need a contract longer than the project and, for academic-led projects, lecturer level or equivalent. Prior AIRR Gateway or Rapid Access experience is expected, or a probationary first month applies.
What you get: Between 50,000 and 150,000 GPU hours over a six-month project period, with no funding attached; the page gives an indicative budget of 2,000,000 GPU hours across both systems.
How to apply: Historical process for the closed round: submit an online form and supporting documents through the AIRR Portal and take part in distributed peer review; failing to supply reviews by the deadline leads to automatic rejection.
Closed / historical: UK AIRR Innovator: closed round Checked 13 November 2026.
Historical UK AI research and development call. UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 16 January 2026 at 16:00 UK time. Compare the currently checked Gateway route for smaller test projects.
Dawn remains in this historical call's name. Do not mistake the older call or its application instructions for a new open opportunity. Official source and next step
No future deadline recorded
- The UKRI page lists the opportunity as closed: it opened on 6 November 2025 and closed at 4:00pm UK time on 16 January 2026, with projects starting between 23 February and 27 March 2026. Source
- The AIRR landing page lists compute providers as Isambard-AI at the University of Bristol and Zenith at the University of Cambridge, and was last updated on 28 September 2026. Source
Checked 3 October 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .
UK AI Research Resource: AI for Science compute opportunity
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK-based researchers from academia, industry or other organisations; organisations must be UK-registered businesses, UKRI-eligible research institutions, charities or non-profits, and academic project leads need lecturer level or equivalent. An individual may lead only one application.
What you get: Between 200,000 and 1,000,000 GPU hours on Isambard-AI or Dawn over a six-month project period; the page says no funding is provided.
How to apply: Historical process for the closed round: submit an online form and supporting documents through the AIRR Portal; expert peer review assesses applications and resources are allocated by tier, with partial randomisation for competitive applications.
Closed / historical: UK AIRR AI for Science: closed round Checked 13 November 2026.
Historical UK AI for Science allocation call. UKRI marks this round closed; its deadline was 21 December 2025 at 16:00 UK time. Compare current access routes before preparing an application.
This UK call is separate from the open EuroHPC AI for Science route. Past resources and eligibility do not establish a current award opportunity. Official source and next step
No future deadline recorded
- The UKRI page lists the opportunity as closed: it opened on 21 November 2025 and closed on 21 December 2025. Source
- Priority areas named include materials science, nuclear fusion, medical research, engineering biology, quantum technologies and AI-driven scientific discovery. Source
Checked 3 October 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .
Cloud credits
| Programme and recorded region | Who can apply | Recorded resources | Evidence and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK AI Research Resource: Cloud Access call UK Closed / historical | UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises with a Companies House number. | Cloud credits for AI research and development with approved providers; the page states up to 400,000 pounds per project. | Read eligibility, application steps and limits Check the official programme UK AIRR Cloud Access call: The official page says applications have closed. Keep this as a historical reference and compare current routes above. Source Status checked 13 November 2026: closed / historical. Programme details checked 3 October 2026. The application-status and programme-detail checks have separate dates. |
Full recorded evidence and application steps for cloud credits
UK AI Research Resource: Cloud Access call
Read the programme evidence and access steps
Who can apply: UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises with a Companies House number.
What you get: Cloud credits for AI research and development with approved providers; the page states up to 400,000 pounds per project.
How to apply: Submit an online form and a five-section application form through the AIRR Portal.
Closed / historical: UK AIRR Cloud Access call Checked 13 November 2026.
Historical UK SME cloud-credit call. The official page says applications have closed. Keep this as a historical reference and compare current routes above.
The recorded application window ended on 24 July 2026. No new round is confirmed here. Official source and next step
No future deadline recorded
- The page lists an application window of 17 to 24 July 2026 and about 20 projects to be selected; the AIRR landing page marks the call as closed. Source
- The AIRR landing page lists the Cloud Access call as closed, with a banner added on 28 September 2026. Source
Checked 3 October 2026. Terms change, so read the programme page before you apply.
Check current status and next steps
Run this programme? .