Nvidia’s Blackwell-Powered AI Surge: A £11B Bet to Make UK the Global AI Epicenter

Nvidia has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United Kingdom, partnering with UK-based AI infrastructure company Nscale and other key players such as Microsoft and CoreWeave. The collaboration will see the deployment of up to 120,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs in the UK by 2026, forming the largest AI infrastructure rollout in the country’s history. This investment is part of a broader initiative valued at £11 billion, covering not only the procurement of chips but also the construction and operation of data centers, energy requirements, and workforce development.

The initiative includes the establishment of the Stargate UK project, a joint venture between Nscale, OpenAI, and NVIDIA. By 2026, Nscale’s UK data centers will host the Blackwell Ultra GPUs, supporting OpenAI’s advanced models, including GPT-5. The project is expected to accelerate AI research, drive productivity, and create new economic opportunities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the potential of this collaboration to support scientific breakthroughs and boost the UK’s economic growth through AI.

NVIDIA is also working with Microsoft to develop the UK’s most powerful supercomputer in Loughton, powered by over 24,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Ultra GPUs. This system will deliver Microsoft Azure services in the UK, enhancing cloud computing capabilities and supporting national AI ambitions. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the importance of this partnership in maintaining the UK’s position at the forefront of AI and cloud innovation.

The investment is part of a broader national AI strategy to position the UK as a global leader in the AI era. The initiative includes the development of AI growth zones, such as the newly announced zone in North East England, where data center construction will be fast-tracked. These zones aim to attract further investment and support the deployment of AI infrastructure across the UK. The government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan, announced in January 2025, outlines plans for fast-tracking data center development and providing priority access to the national grid.

NVIDIA is also expanding its collaboration with UK quantum computing pioneers, including Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) and the University of Edinburgh. These efforts are focused on integrating quantum computing with AI infrastructure, including the development of quantum-AI supercomputing centers. The collaboration with OQC and Digital Realty will establish a quantum-GPU computing center in New York City, offering businesses access to secure and scalable quantum-AI resources. This marks another step in NVIDIA’s efforts to integrate advanced computing technologies into the AI ecosystem.

In addition to infrastructure development, NVIDIA is working with techUK, QA, and Quanser to strengthen the UK’s robotics and AI workforce. Through this partnership, NVIDIA will provide technical resources and training through its Deep Learning Institute, supporting the government’s efforts to prepare the workforce for the AI industrial revolution. This initiative builds on the AI skills development program launched in June 2025, which aims to upskill professionals across industry, research, and public sectors.

The UK’s AI growth zones and investment in sovereign computing are part of a global trend where nations are increasingly recognizing AI infrastructure as essential to national competitiveness. The £11 billion investment from NVIDIA and its partners represents one of the largest single investments by a technology firm in the UK. This initiative aligns with similar global efforts, including Google’s £5 billion expansion in the UK and OpenAI’s Oracle-backed Stargate project in the US, which aims for two million GPU deployments. Despite these international efforts, the UK’s approach is notable for its focus on rapid infrastructure deployment and collaboration with homegrown tech firms.