Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what are the criteria for the strict UK benefit test being applied to assess prospective recipient companies of the Sovereign AI Fund.

Sovereign AI is designed to help the most promising UK AI companies start, scale and remain anchored in the UK. The Fund only invests in companies where this will benefit the UK, with UK nexus assessed as part of the decision-making process. This includes reviewing domicile, headquarters, the location of key executives, technical staff and R&D activity, and expected UK procurement, infrastructure and ecosystem contribution. This assessment ensures that the Fund’s investment activity, as part of the wider Sovereign AI offer, results in the realisation of the UK economic and strategic benefits the Fund is designed to achieve.

For non-equity support, UK anchoring is reflected in published eligibility and assessment criteria, including UK registration and requirements to demonstrate substantive R&D in the UK where applicable.