Supporting undergraduates from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to get into AI research and careers.
The Hg Foundation is partnering with the Royal Academy of Engineering and Google DeepMind to deliver the Research Ready Programme. Providing paid research placements in top AI labs, the programme addresses the barriers encountered by undergraduates from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in progressing into research and careers in AI. In doing so, it helps to build a stronger AI research pipeline, which brings a wider range of perspectives to this crucial and rapidly growing field.
Leading AI departments at UK universities host the research placements in the summer, with a six-week programme aimed at improving participants’ knowledge of the different areas of AI, building their research expertise, and increasing their understanding of, and confidence in, the routes into different AI careers. The paid placements cover all the accommodation, travel and living expenses of participants.
The Foundation co-funded the programme with Google DeepMind in 2025 and this year is again supporting the programme in 2026 to reach 60 undergraduate students across 11 universities.
The Foundation also funded a formative evaluation conducted by ImpactEd which has helped to identify how far Google DeepMind Research Ready is meeting its aims, and made suggestions on how the programme could be improved. Explore the recommendations and the Academy's response in greater detail below.
Evaluation findings
86% of participants agreed they gained valuable hands-on experience in AI research methods
85% said the project gave them practical experience relevant to AI careers
80% said they were able to contribute meaningfully to an AI research project
90% of participants agreed that their mentor provided them with genuine support, motivation and encouragement.
Read the full report
We are thrilled to embark on this partnership, which will empower the next generation of AI innovators by providing them with invaluable hands-on research experiences. These placement opportunities will not only deepen their understanding of AI's potential but also inspire them to progress to further studies and careers in AI so that they too can develop groundbreaking solutions that address real-world challenges.
We are delighted to have a national academy, a private company and charitable foundation, backed by a tech investor, partnering in this unique way. Working with Google DeepMind and The Hg Foundation, I believe we can make a meaningful contribution not only to enabling a more diverse AI research community but also to shaping the UK’s role in responsible development of emerging technologies like AI to ensure that they are designed rigorously and sustainably, and adopted where they have the maximum benefit.