UK invention agency ARIA pledges £50M of public money to US tech firms and VCs

The UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), founded by Dominic Cummings, committed £50M ($70M) to nine US tech firms and three US venture capital groups — more than one-eighth of its £400M two-year R&D budget. Recipients include Rain Neuromorphics (backed by Sam Altman) and Pillar VC (£10.9M to support UK tech talent). ARIA maintains that 80%+ of funding goes to UK teams and contracts require UK benefit guarantees. The Guardian's investigation, based on transparency disclosures, sparked debate about taxpayer funds flowing to American startups.