Round Two: AI for Clean Energy Systems

Meet the round 2 cohort here

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.

Round One (2023 – 2025) focused on the application of AI to support Energy, Environment + Infrastructure. Polaron won the £1million grand prize in March 2025.

Round Two (2024 – 2026) is looking at AI powered solutions to help the UK towards a Clean Energy System. The ten participating teams were announced on June 11th 2025.

The Prize Rounds

Round Two of the Manchester Prize: Clean Energy Systems

The second round, launched in December 2024, asks innovators to develop solutions using the application of AI to speed up the UK’s adoption of Clean Energy Systems.

The 10 finalists were announced on 11th June 2025. The teams have received £100,000 seed funding, and £60,000 compute costs to support to develop their solutions and will compete for a £1 million prize decided in spring 2026.

Meet the round two cohort

A women with a laptop inspecting plants.

Round One of the Manchester Prize: Energy, Environment & Infrastructure

The first year’s challenge sought breakthrough ideas for overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.

We are delighted to announce that the grand prize winner of £1 million, is Polaron, an artificial intelligence technology that dramatically accelerates the development of new advanced materials from decades to just a day.

Read our blog on the winning team here.