Round Two: Clean Energy Systems

Round Two : Clean Energy Systems is now open (19 Nov- 17 Jan)

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. Every year for a decade, it is rewarding innovations that will help to transform the lives of people across the UK and continue to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting-edge innovation.

Now in its second year, teams are invited to respond to the following challenge statement:

The second Manchester Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful AI solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards a net zero energy system. Solutions should demonstrate use of AI that delivers on at least one of the following:

• accelerates the UK’s adoption of clean energy technologies at scale,
• enables efficient or low-cost operations of clean energy systems,
• significantly reduces energy demand, or optimises energy usage.

The winning solution will demonstrate not only technical innovation but also an evidenced road map to near-term (2030) adoption and scale.

Up to 10 of the most promising solutions will each be supported with £100,000 in seed funding, up to £60,000 of compute and additional non-financial support to develop products and services capable of winning the £1 million grand prize in spring 2026.

Apply for Round Two

The first Manchester Prize, which launched in December 2023, sought breakthrough ideas for overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.

The finalists are currently in the development phase, and are due to submit their final solutions for judging in January 2025. The winner of the £1 million grand prize for the first Manchester Prize will be announced in March 2025. 

Learn more about Round One