Extending Our Perception Grant

About this grant

Extending Our Perception is an opportunity space defined by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) focused on developing what it calls Hypersensory Intelligence — integrated systems where AI is co-designed with novel sensing technologies to directly capture high-dimensional signals from the physical world. The programme is premised on the belief that the world contains vast amounts of information hidden from human senses and not yet captured by conventional algorithms, and that the next era of AI will require fundamentally new approaches to perception. ARIA's core beliefs underpinning this space are: that current AI models under-utilise most sensing modalities and need to harness sensors extending beyond human intuition; that training on archived data from static sensors is insufficient, requiring dynamic systems that treat perception and cognition as mutually reinforcing; and that as Hypersensory Intelligence develops, symbiotic co-perception will emerge as a new capability class, enabling better understanding and exploitation of biological sensing in humans and other species. The programme is currently in development, with a particular focus on Olfactory Perception. The current programme thesis outlines an ambition to build a general-purpose artificial sense of smell that matches or exceeds biological performance on defined tasks, enabling machines to detect and interpret chemical signals in the real world. While AI systems can already see, hear, and generate complex content, smell remains an unexplored and information-rich frontier that this programme aims to address. This opportunity space is part of ARIA's broader mission to identify areas likely to yield scientific and technological breakthroughs, with Programme Directors shaping the direction of each space. The Extending Our Perception space is presented as underserved and ripe for investment, with formal programme development ongoing.

Key requirements

• ✓Focus on integrating AI with novel sensor technologies for new perception modalities
• ✓Demonstrate potential for cross-disciplinary breakthroughs
• ✓Address information hidden from human senses or current algorithms

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) offer?

Extending Our Perception offers See ARIA programme page.

Who can apply for Extending Our Perception?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB, UK; startup, sme, university, research-institution.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Climate software and data funding supports emissions accounting, climate risk analytics, Earth observation, digital MRV and tools for planners. It is offered as innovation grants, public contracts for data services and support from technology programmes. Buyers generally look for data quality, interoperability and evidence that users rely on the tool.