UK £1.1bn AI hardware plan backs chips, sovereign supercomputer and skills

On June 8, 2026, the UK government unveiled a £1.1 billion AI Hardware Plan funding a national AI supercomputer, next‑generation chips and semiconductor skills programs. Follow‑on analysis published June 9 details a £750 million heterogeneous AI supercomputer for 2030, £400 million for advanced chips—including £150 million in inference chips from UK startups—and up to £150 million for a Playground Global‑led hardware fund backed by the British Business Bank.