Conclusion 8

The Department recognises the power of government procurement to help technology companies to grow and acknowledged that government should be a better customer.13 It highlighted the government’s commitment to procuring a large-scale quantum computer in the next spending review period.14 It also told us that it has ensured that the AI Research Resource programme will use a number of different kinds of chips, so that highly innovative UK companies have a better opportunity to win contracts.15 This programme will ultimately spend £400 million on these specialised chips.16 The Department also told us that it provides free time on publicly funded supercomputers to AI startups.17 To be eligible, these startups must be carrying out strategically significant AI research and development.18