Round Two of the Manchester Prize: Clean Energy Systems
Round One of the Manchester Prize: Energy, Environment & Infrastructure
AI for public good
The Manchester Prize is a multi-million pound, multi-year challenge prize, launched in 2023 and funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to reward UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good.
The prize aims to reward innovations that will help transform people’s lives across the UK and continue to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting-edge innovation. The themes and aims of the prize change on an annual basis, directing resources and funding at areas in most need and with the biggest opportunities.
The multi-year prize is now in the second round of delivery. The first year’s challenge, which launched in December 2023 and culminated with a winner announcement in March 2025, sought breakthrough ideas for overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.
The second round which launched in December 2024 has a focus on the application of AI to speed up the UK’s adoption of Clean Energy Systems the ten finalists of this second round will be announced in spring 2025.
Round 1 winners announced
We are pleased to announce the winning team is Polaron, an artificial intelligence technology that dramatically accelerates the development of new advanced materials from decades to just a day. Polaron has won the £1 million inaugural Manchester Prize.
Round One of the Manchester Prize: Energy, Environment & Infrastructure (December 2023 – March 2025)
The finalists for the first Manchester Prize have recently completed a nine-month development phase and the winner of the £1 million grand prize for the first Manchester Prize was announced on 19th March 2025. Find out about the 10 finalist teams in the film below, or visit our innovators page.
Round Two of the Manchester Prize: Clean Energy Systems (November 2024 – March 2026)
In Spring 2025 we will find out who the ten finalist teams for the second Manchester Prize will be – keep an eye on our website or sign up to our newsletter to hear the news as a priority audience.
Our Prizes
Who is involved in the Manchester Prize?
The Manchester Prize is an initiative of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on behalf of HM Government.
The Manchester Prize is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Manchester Prize is being delivered for DSIT by Challenge Works.