Starmer promises £1 billion investment in Superchage UK Tech and AI infrastructure
Sir Keir Starmer has released a £1 billion investment package aimed at expanding UK computing power twenty times to consolidate Britain’s position as a global leader in technology and artificial intelligence.
The Prime Minister opened London Tech Week this morning, saying the investment will be part of the government’s long-term ambitious and become “the best state partner for tech entrepreneurs anywhere in the world”.
The financing is expected to play a central role in Prime Minister Rachel Reeves’ upcoming spending review, with industry leaders looking to further announce developments on AI growth zones. These regions will speed up program approval and ensure access to data center clean energy, the key enabler for AI development and deployment.
The move comes as technology giants and investors increasingly emphasize the UK’s potential in AI, but also warns of infrastructure bottlenecks. Speaking at the same event, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang described the UK’s AI sector as “world jealousy” but added that the country lacks a key factor: “If you are in the world of AI, you can do machine learning. You won’t be able to do machine learning without machines.”
Huang’s comments were responded to during a conversation with new investment ministers Starmer and Baroness Gustafsson. Huang said: “In the UK, the ability to build these AI supercomputers in the UK will naturally attract more startups.” It shows that AI infrastructure will be the key to maintaining the UK’s competitive advantage.
The government’s AI strategy outlined in January promises to make a roadmap for the country’s AI infrastructure within six months. Today’s announcement marks an important step towards this goal, addressing the industry’s call for clearer and more investment on the physical and digital basis needed to support advanced computing and innovation.
Starmer’s commitments could be welcomed by tech investors and entrepreneurs, many of whom believe that despite the UK’s academic strength and entrepreneurial culture, advances in AI are still hampered by limited high-performance computing and ready-made energy infrastructure.
The Prime Minister’s remarks also suggest a more collaborative relationship between the government and the tech industry, focusing on long-term joining programs. “It’s not just building the infrastructure,” Starmer said. “It’s about building confidence – believing that the UK is a place where innovation can thrive, entrepreneurship can expand and the country is a positive and reliable partner.”
With London Tech Week as a global platform for UK tech ambitions, today’s announcement sets the tone for a key summer of digital policy and investment. Whether the promise will translate into infrastructure, skills and energy reforms, the industry requirement may be revealed in a detailed budget plan later this week.
