The UK and United States have signed a landmark “Technology Prosperity Deal” during President Donald Trump’s state visit, in what ministers are calling a record-breaking agreement set to reshape the future of science and technology collaboration.
The memorandum of understanding, published by the Prime Minister’s Office today (18 September), coincides with the unveiling of a £150bn package of US investment into the UK. Government officials described it as the largest commercial deal of its kind, with the potential to create more than 7,600 high-quality jobs nationwide. Significantly, the majority of these new roles are expected to be based outside London. Around 6,000 posts will be spread across Glasgow, Warrington, the Midlands and the North East – a move designed to boost regional economies and strengthen the UK’s science and technology base beyond the South East.
AI, quantum and nuclear at the forefront
The tech prosperity deal sets out cooperation between the two countries in a range of cutting-edge fields including artificial intelligence (AI), civil nuclear, fusion, quantum technologies, secure telecommunications and frontier innovation.
Praising the commitment, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The deals and investment being announced today break all records.”
“What a day, 250 billion pounds [340 billion dollars] flowing both ways across the Atlantic,” Starmer said. “It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history by a country mile.”
The deal focuses heavily on AI investment, with Starmer announcing significant commitments from companies including Nvidia, Nscale, OpenAI, Google, and Salesforce that would create “cutting-edge British jobs for years to come.”
According to the PM, up to 15,000 jobs are expected to be created as a direct result of the investments.
Starmer described it as a “blueprint to win this new era.” “To fuel this revolution, we have struck a new deal on civil nuclear power,” he said, adding that 12 new advanced nuclear reactors are set to be built in the northeast of England, providing the opportunity to generate energy “for millions of homes and businesses driving down bills on both sides of the Atlantic and driving up energy security.”
On AI, the agreement highlights plans for flagship joint research programmes between US science agencies such as the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, and UK bodies including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK Research and Innovation. Priority areas include AI for biotechnology, precision medicine, cancer research, and fusion energy.
The two governments also intend to advance AI-driven applications in space, building on collaboration between NASA and the UK Space Agency. A transatlantic partnership on AI standards and security will be developed through closer ties between the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation and the UK’s AI Security Institute.
In nuclear, the MOU commits both nations to accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors and fuels, with a target of achieving full independence from Russian nuclear fuel by 2028. Regulatory reforms aim to cut licensing times for new designs to just two years. The deal also emphasises joint action to pioneer fusion energy and develop civil nuclear applications such as maritime power.
On quantum technologies, the UK and US have pledged to work together to achieve “true quantum advantage”, with initiatives including a joint benchmarking taskforce, a transatlantic Quantum Code Challenge, and the creation of a Quantum Industry Exchange Programme.
Focus on regional impact
While the MOU is broad and strategic in scope, officials stressed the importance of its impact across the UK, with Glasgow, Warrington, the Midlands and the North East singled out as key locations for thousands of new jobs.
The government said the deal would help ensure that “U.S. and UK citizens benefit from the opportunities of AI across the supply chain” and that regional hubs would be central to the delivery of new programmes, particularly in AI and nuclear research.
The announcement comes at a time when the North has been increasingly positioned as a centre for science and innovation, with Warrington already home to significant nuclear expertise at Birchwood Park, and the North East seeing growth in advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries.
Building a ‘Golden Age of Innovation’
The memorandum frames the agreement as a long-term partnership to “usher in the next Golden Age of Innovation” and to maintain the UK and US’s position as global leaders in science and technology.
It includes commitments on:
- Deepening research security collaboration to protect critical technologies.
- Coordinating development of 6G-relevant technologies.
- Joint investment initiatives to scale up critical and emerging technologies.
- Annual reviews of progress, overseen by a new Ministerial-Level Working Group.
The government stressed that the deal is not legally binding but provides a framework for cooperation and investment. A ministerial group will be convened within six months to oversee delivery, with formal reviews to follow annually.
Officials said the combination of record-breaking US investment and long-term strategic cooperation would provide a foundation for economic growth, job creation, and innovation across the UK, with regional hubs playing a central role.
