History of the Manchester Prize
Why is the prize named after Manchester?
The prize could have been named to honour Manchester as the UK’s leading and most vibrant hub for science, innovation, and technology, however, the chosen name carries a deeper historical significance. The name pays tribute to the city’s pivotal role in the history of modern computing.
Manchester is home to one of the most significant milestones in the history of computing, the development of the first stored-program electronic digital computer, famously known as “Baby.” This groundbreaking machine ran its first program in Manchester, marking a significant step in the evolution of computing. Although it is challenging to pinpoint a single birthplace of modern computing, Manchester’s Baby is indisputably a strong contender.
The Manchester Prize not only commemorates Baby’s historical significance but also embodies the spirit of curiosity and exploration that drove the pioneers of computing. Just as Baby served as a test bed for the Williams Tube, an early form of computer memory, the Manchester Prize similarly encourages a bold embrace of uncertainty and exploration, empowering a diverse range of innovators to deliver meaningful impact with their ideas.
The development of Baby and its successor, the Mark I, highlights the importance of collaboration within innovation. The success of these early computers was not the result of a single sector’s efforts but collaborative efforts involving academia, government, and industry. The prize reflects this spirit of cross-sector collaboration and challenges UK-based teams to develop cutting-edge AI that can contribute positively to today’s most pressing challenges.
Looking back at Manchester’s contributions to computing, we see the immediate impact of these early machines but also the seeds they planted for a technological revolution. Today, we carry powerful computers in our pockets, a far development from the days of Baby, yet directly connected to the innovations that began in Manchester. The Manchester Prize aims to nurture the next wave of transformative innovations, ensuring that today’s breakthroughs continue to shape our future in profound and lasting ways.
Watch Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, speak about the history of the Manchester Prize below:
The first Manchester Prize is seeking AI-powered innovations from UK-led teams to overcoming challenges in the fields of energy, environment and infrastructure.