US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives

As part of the US President’s State Visit, the UK and US have agreed the Tech Prosperity Deal, focused on developing the fastest growing technologies like AI, quantum, and nuclear.

This comes as America’s top technology and AI firms – like Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google, OpenAI and CoreWeave – commit a combined £31 billion to boost the UK’s AI infrastructure and cutting-edge tech, from data centres to computer chips, the processing power behind AI. Today’s commitments build on the £44 billion in investment into the UK’s AI and tech sector under this government.

Under the partnership, the UK and US will put joint resources and expertise into making emerging technologies a shared success for British and American people

• millions of patients could receive life-saving treatments faster, as the UK and US partner up to develop revolutionary quantum computers and open new avenues to use AI in targeted treatments which can aid drug discovery. Technologies like AI and quantum – which can also be applied in many ways across healthcare, energy, space and defence – can bring breakthroughs like new medicines and treatments in a fraction of the time and cost it takes today.
• families could get access to cleaner, more reliable energy, thanks to a civil nuclear deal that will slash red tape and speed up the delivery of nuclear projects. It means British consumers could be more protected from international fossil fuel price hikes and British workers could benefit from high-paying jobs unlocked by these projects.
• local communities and businesses will see greater opportunities through investment and rollout of AI infrastructure in both countries, creating jobs and driving growth. A new AI Growth Zone in the North East has the potential to see billions of pounds worth of investment and jobs funnelled into the region. With leading US tech companies joining forces with British firm Nscale to build out AI infrastructure, British businesses will have access to the cutting-edge chips they need to adopt AI, innovate and compete.

As part of the pact, the UK and US will unite to forge joint research schemes to further the use of AI to allow for targeted treatments and other shared priorities like fusion energy. This could see both countries working together to build new AI models for life-changing breakthroughs like developing targeted treatments for those suffering with cancer or rare and chronic diseases. 

This landmark deal is already bearing fruit. A raft of investments and partnerships worth a combined £31 billion have been injected into the UK today – focused on building new data centres and growing AI start-ups, cutting-edge tech, as well as developing advanced quantum computers. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said  

This Tech Prosperity Deal marks a generational step change in our relationship with the US, shaping the futures of millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic, and delivering growth, security and opportunity up and down the country.

By teaming-up with world-class companies from both the UK and US, we’re laying the foundations for a future where together we are world leaders in the technology of tomorrow, creating highly skilled jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets and ensuring this partnership benefits every corner of the United Kingdom.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said

This partnership will deliver good jobs, life-saving treatments and faster medical breakthroughs for the British people.

Our world-leading tech companies and scientists will be working together to transform lives across Britain.

This is a vote of confidence in Britain’s booming AI sector – building on British success stories such as Arm, Wayve and Google Deepmind – that will boost growth and deliver tens of thousands of skilled jobs.

Boosting the UK’s status as an AI maker, NVIDIA will join forces with companies across the UK to deploy 120,000 advanced GPUs across the UK, representing its biggest ever rollout in Europe to date. This infrastructure is the building block of AI technology, able to carry out a huge number of calculations in a split second.

This includes the deployment of up to 60,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Ultra GPUs from British firm Nscale who will partner with OpenAI to deliver a Stargate UK project and establish a partnership with Microsoft to deliver the UK’s largest AI supercomputer in Loughton.

One of the areas set to benefit is the North East, where a new AI Growth Zone will be established and is expected to host some of the initial deployment of the Stargate UK project at Cobalt Park.

Semiconductor designs by leading British chip design company Arm form part of Nvidia’s latest Grace Blackwell series of chips, demonstrating further collaboration between UK and US companies.

Further investment in data centres – the factories powering AI – as well as start-ups in AI and beyond is also being set out

• Microsoft is announcing a $30 billion (£22 billion) investment in AI infrastructure and ongoing operations across the UK – marking the largest financial commitment it has ever made in the UK. It will enable Microsoft to build out the UK’s cloud and AI infrastructure and build the country’s largest supercomputer, with more than 23,000 advanced GPUs, in partnership with Nscale. Microsoft has invested in the United Kingdom for more than 4 decades and is now home to 6,000 Microsoft employees, multiple data centre regions, and some of its most important AI and Research Labs, and gaming studios.

• Google is announcing the opening of its data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, as part of a 2-year £5 billion investment in the UK. This includes Google’s capital expenditure, research and development, and related engineering over the next 2 years – and encompasses Google DeepMind with its pioneering AI research in science and healthcare. The investments will help the UK develop its AI economy and unlock AI breakthroughs across the UK, fortify cybersecurity, and create future-focused career opportunities for millions of Brits. Google’s investment is projected to create 8,250 jobs annually at UK businesses.

• AI cloud computing company CoreWeave will be investing £1.5 billion in AI data centre capacity and operations in the UK – bringing total investment in the UK to £2.5 billion over the past year. As part of this investment, CoreWeave is partnering with British firm DataVita in Scotland to build one of Europe’s largest, most efficient AI data centres. It will deliver advanced compute powered by renewable energy, whilst creating local jobs and contributing to the local economy.

• Salesforce has today announced an additional $2 billion (£1.4 billion) in investment in its UK business through 2030. Salesforce UK will become an AI hub for the UK and Europe with new R&D teams to support business innovation across the region. The investment bolsters Salesforce’s ongoing commitment to the UK, extending a previous 5-year investment of $4 billion made in 2023, bringing the total investment to $6 billion.

• UK-based company AI Pathfinder has committed to delivering AI compute capacity – essential to developing and deploying AI. This will begin in Northamptonshire, with an initial investment of over £1 billion.

• NVIDIA will also invest in the UK’s AI start-up scene – providing fresh capital for domestic tech companies to grow, get innovative AI technologies off the ground and to market, and compete on the global stage. 

• techUK is collaborating with NVIDIA, alongside robotics and automation leader Quanser and training provider QA, to deliver a program that connects its members, robotics researchers, and startups with funding, training, and industry collaboration opportunities to make the most of AI.

• Scale AI will invest £39 million in the UK over the next 2 years, expanding their European HQ in London and quadrupling its employees by the end of next year.

• BlackRock is investing £500 million into enterprise data centres across the country, which includes an initial investment of over £100 million in a data centre expansion west of London. The broader programme will enhance UK digital infrastructure.

Founder and CEO of NVIDIA Jensen Huang said

Today marks a historic chapter in U.S. – United Kingdom technology collaboration.

We are at the Big Bang of the AI era – and the United Kingdom stands in a Goldilocks position, where world-class talent, research and industry converge.

By building state-of-the-art AI infrastructure and investing in British startups, we are unlocking the power of AI for the U.K. – fuelling breakthroughs, creating jobs, and igniting the next industrial revolution.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said

The UK has been a longstanding pioneer of AI, and is now home to world-class researchers, millions of ChatGPT users, and a government that quickly recognized the potential of this technology. Stargate UK builds on this foundation to help accelerate scientific breakthroughs, improve productivity, and drive economic growth. This partnership reflects our shared vision that with the right infrastructure in place, AI can expand opportunity for people and businesses across the UK.

Josh Payne, Nscale CEO said

We’re delighted to announce Nscale’s commitment to UK AI infrastructure today, including through Stargate UK and building the most powerful supercomputer in the country with Microsoft. As a UK-based company, we’re showing how we can be makers, not takers, of the most important technology of our time.

Rene Haas, CEO of Arm

The launch of Stargate UK represents a critical step in expanding Britain’s AI computing power and digital infrastructure. As a company founded and headquartered in the UK, Arm is proud to be at the forefront of the nation’s semiconductor plans and to be a technology partner for Stargate UK, delivering the computing platform that makes scalable, energy-efficient AI possible.

Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft

We’re committed to creating new opportunity for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, and to ensuring America remains a trusted and reliable tech partner for the United Kingdom.

That is why we are doubling down on our investment in the UK, investing more than $30 billion over 4 years, including building the country’s largest supercomputer.

This follows renewed commitments from US companies Oracle and Amazon Web Services in the UK. Oracle has committed to expanding the AI infrastructure it provides to the UK government reaffirming their $5 billion investment over the next 5 years. Whilst Amazon also earlier this year announced a commitment to build and operate data centres across the UK with an £8 billion investment.

Showcasing how British technological excellence drives prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, UK-based quantum computing company Oxford Quantum Circuits installed New York City’s first quantum computer, in collaboration with NVIDIA and Digital Realty, and launched a pioneering Quantum-AI Data Centre just outside of the city.

US quantum firm IonQ is setting up its EMEA headquarters and a new R&D and manufacturing hub in Oxford, following a $1 billion merger with UK start-up Oxford Ionics. The investment will create high-skilled jobs, boost UK quantum exports, and is a flagship example of US/UK collaboration in next-generation technologies.

Michael Intrator, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CoreWeave

Our investment in the UK will establish one of the world’s largest concentrations of state-of-the-art, sustainable compute, unlocking new opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and scientific discovery.

It allows us to deliver unparalleled AI performance with the lowest possible environmental impact, setting a new global standard. We look forward to collaborating with the UK government and the broader ecosystem to drive the next wave of responsible AI leadership around the world.

Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce

We are doubling down on our long-standing commitment to the UK with this significant investment.

We’re delighted that the UK, already a vital talent and innovation centre, will become our AI hub for Europe, driving product innovation for customers across the region.

James Seppala, Chairman of Blackstone Europe, said

We are delighted that the government has designated our hyperscale data centre campus in Northumberland as an AI Growth Zone. This should help accelerate the development of one of Europe’s largest data centre facilities, with £10 billion of projected investment by Blackstone funds. We hope that the project will represent a transformational investment for the region, with the potential to deliver substantial benefits to the country and local communities, by driving innovation, creating high-skilled jobs, and solidifying the UK’s position as a global AI leader.

Notes to editors

Artificial intelligence

The UK and US governments will forge a historic research collaboration to advance the use of AI in drug discovery and other shared priorities like fusion energy.

The UK and US will work together to drive AI-powered healthcare solutions in areas such as precision medicine and chronic disease – leveraging cutting-edge technologies and existing trusted and secure datasets, such as UK Biobank. The US and UK will also collaborate to co-create breakthrough research topics with the potential to catalyze investments that will redefine what is possible in medicine and patient care.

The partnership will see AI models developed by NASA and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to support science and exploration missions, like those on the moon and Mars.

The deal will also create new opportunities for business and investment, as both countries look to scale up their AI infrastructure.

This will be a boost to British businesses behind the infrastructure, like those creating the next generation of semiconductor chips that power AI all the way to those who operate data centres and other compute resources.

The partnership will deepen the collaboration between the UK and US governments on advancing the science of AI security and promoting secure innovation – including by exchanging world-leading talent and expertise. By working together and alongside industry to develop standards we can promote the prosperity of consumers and the safety of our citizens, ensuring that the UK and US lead the world in understanding and harnessing advanced AI.

In support of the US-UK science and technology partnership, Google DeepMind will work with both governments to advise on how scientists can harness the latest AI tools in their work – as well as continuing their partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to advance fusion energy research in the US and UK.

Quantum technologies

The UK and US will partner to develop revolutionary quantum computers and speed up the deployment of this technology across areas like healthcare, defence and finance. This will boost healthcare, protect citizens and create highly skilled jobs.

For example, millions of patients could receive life-saving treatments faster thanks to this groundbreaking deal. Traditional drug discovery takes years and costs millions because it relies on simulating countless molecular interactions. Quantum computers can speed this up dramatically by simulating molecules more accurately and quickly than ever before. 

Quantum tech is already saving lives, including by helping to study and treat epilepsy and dementia or providing clearer insights into our brains for brain scans. This UK–US partnership could unlock even faster breakthroughs, bringing life-changing treatments to patients sooner and transforming the future of healthcare. 

Under the deal, the 2 countries will establish a taskforce of the UK and US’s top researchers to discover and accelerate breakthroughs in quantum technologies. An exchange programme across industry will also be created to spur adoption across defence, health, finance, and energy.

Through the combined strength of national labs, the genius of British and American scientists, and the agility of leading companies, we can deliver unmatched innovation and keep our countries safe, prosperous, and leading the pack.

Nuclear

 
The partnership will turbocharge the build-out of new nuclear power stations to secure jobs and growth in the UK and US.

New deals between UK and US companies announced this week have been enabled by the partnership, which will make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations by speeding up the time it takes for a nuclear project to get a license. The partnership also extends to fusion energy, where British and American expertise will fast-track progress towards commercial fusion power.

This golden age of nuclear is central to the government’s mission to build more clean homegrown power to ensure energy security.