UK expands visa programme for AI talent

Science fellowships to attract 'brightest and best brains to Britain'

UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced plans to double science fellowships. Photo: London Tech Week

The UK government is aiming to more than double the number of science fellowships it awards as part of a drive to boost the UK’s artificial intelligence infrastructure, its Technology Secretary announced on Tuesday.

Peter Kyle said the government would not shy away from risk when it came to developing AI infrastructure, but that it needed overseas talent to do so, as well as training new generations at home.

“Our tech success wouldn't have been possible without brilliant people choosing time and time again to call Britain home,” Mr Kyle said. "In an ever-more competitive world, we simply can't afford to lose that status.

“So we will introduce a new scheme to attract the brightest and the best brains to Britain,” he added, speaking at the London Tech Week conference.

Mr Kyle said the UK government would double the number of places available in its Encode: AI science fellowship, which embeds AI researchers in UK labs. The next cohort is expected to start in autumn.

He also announced the launch of the Turing AI "Global" Fellowship, to attract five AI experts to the UK. This is in addition to Turing AI Fellowships, which have been available since 2019.

Global fellows will receive packages to relocate to the UK and build a team of experts to conduct “frontier” AI research that contributes to the UK's infrastructure.

Carolyn Dawson, chief executive of Founder's Forum which co-hosted London Tech Week, said policies that made it easier for exceptional talent to come to the UK were needed.

“This announcement sends a clear signal that the UK is serious about attracting and building world-class AI talent," she told The National." To truly lead in this field, we need a joined-up approach and strong pathways for both international experts and homegrown innovators.

"We’re committed to supporting policies that make it easier for exceptional talent to contribute to the UK’s AI ecosystem. This is how we ensure the UK remains a global hub for technological excellence."

The UK has been tightening visa restrictions since 2020 and Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government proposed a new round of restrictions last month, including higher overseas students tax.

The proposed changes would also make it easier for "highly skilled" migrants to come to the UK through a Global Talent scheme.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the London Tech Week conference, where he announced the TechFirst programme for secondary school pupils to be taught AI. PA

It comes as Mr Starmer announced a “national skills drive” worth £187 million ($239 million) to give “over a million students” the chance to start careers in AI on Monday.

Mr Starmer also pledged a £1 billion investment in AI compute – the microchips, processing units and cabling that make AI systems function – and announced a new government AI assistant called “Extract” to help process planning applications.

Mr Kyle said the UK had been overburdened by a “regulatory regime that was stuck in the past”, and that the new government was prepared to take risks to use AI and technology to stimulate jobs and cut costs.

He spoke of British businesses that were seeking better opportunities overseas. “When countries become preoccupied with avoiding risk, they risk resisting innovation,” Mr Kyle said. “Too often Britain has felt like a country where people resist innovation.”

He said a centre focused on accelerating the adoption of AI will be established at London’s Imperial College, in partnership with the government and the World Economic Forum.

The UK government will also work on creating OpenBind, the “world’s largest database” analysing how drugs interact with proteins. Mr Kyle said the project “could cut the cost of developing new treatments by up to £100 billion”.