AI tech to dramatically accelerate the development of materials used in wind turbines and EV batteries wins government prize for innovation to aid public good
Polaron, a spin-out from Imperial College London, have won the first £1m grand prize from the Manchester Prize initiative that has been running since November 2023.
Photo by Logan Gutierrez / Unsplash
The team, along with nine other shortlisted entries, had already received £100,000 from the initiative that aims to encourage cutting-edge AI solution to major societal challenges.
The Polaron team’s AI tech speeds up the development of new advanced materials – from decades to just a day.
Advanced materials – such as metal alloys used to reinforce bridges and skyscrapers, to the batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) – are essential to modern life. But developing new kinds of this material has always been expensive and slow. That is until now.
The Polaron system rapidly analyses images of the microstructure – the features of a material visible under a microscope – to predict how given materials will perform. This aids manufacturers to create stronger, lighter and more efficient materials for a wide range of uses. That includes in such essential sectors as clean energy, infrastructure and transport.
The prize, in the form of government funding, means that the Polaron team can further develop this technology.
A second round of the Manchester Prize, launched in November 2024, is focused on ‘AI for Clean Energy Systems’. The 10 finalists selected to receive an initial £100,000 will be confirmed in coming weeks, with an overall winner set to receive the £1m grand prize next year.
Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, says: ‘Polaron exemplifies the promise of AI and shows how, through our Plan for Change, we are putting AI innovation at the forefront. AI could generate £400bn to our economy over the next five years, supporting trailblazing companies like Polaron is essential to achieving that vision.
‘Technologies like these will help us meet our net zero targets while creating new jobs and opportunities for working people. Our commitment is clear – we are fully embracing AI to drive growth, improve public services and position the UK as a global leader in AI innovation.’
Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, adds: ‘Our Plan for Change will deliver economic growth, and for that to succeed we need to support companies such as Polaron across the UK in delivering the cutting-edge materials of the future, supported by our Industrial Strategy. This government is determined to embrace each and every opportunity of new technologies like AI, which will not only help British companies develop products we can use at home but also open up access for them to export them overseas.’
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