SPRITE+ | CRANE 2026 Sandpit: AI and TIPSS
SPRITE+ and CRANE are pleased to invite Members and Expert Fellows to apply to attend a blended sandpit on the AI and TIPSS. Up to a total of £224k of combined SPRITE+ and CRANE funding will be made available to fund up to four interdisciplinary projects arising from this sandpit.
Time & Location
03 Jun 2026, 12:30 BST – 01 Jul 2026, 16:30 BST
Online | In-person in Oxford
About the event
Background
SPRITE+ is an EPSRC-funded NetworkPlus (grant reference EP/W020408/1). We work with academic and non-academic stakeholders to build and strengthen the TIPSS (Trust, Identity, Privacy Security and Safety) community and identify requirements and promising new directions for research in this area. We have a ‘pump-priming’ budget to fund activities that explore and test new ideas, and that create new collaborations between academic disciplines, and between academic and non-academic partners.
CRANE is a new EPSRC-funded Network+ (grant reference EP/Z534845/1) which aims to strengthen the UK’s cybersecurity research ecosystem. It will evaluate new technologies and threats, and opportunities for novel research to bring tangible security interventions.
Sandpits are intensive, interactive experiences where you will work with fellow participants to create new ideas from scratch. The previous five SPRITE+ Sandpits have resulted in the funding of twenty-five projects. Here’s some of the feedback from previous participants:
“The sandpit brought people together which would have never met otherwise. I met fantastic colleagues and am very grateful for this opportunity. It was a focused and well-structured event which was also exceptionally well organised and facilitated. Thank you!”
“An excellent experience and one that I would highly recommend. Rather than having months to plan and think about a project it forces you to think creatively and strategically, taking on board other interests and feedback.”
“Highlights for me are: Forming connections with other people in the area, particularly from other disciplines. Understanding and discussing key issues. Developing project proposals at speed. Getting valuable insight from mentors at every stage of the process. Mentor and funding clinics to get the support we need.”
The Research Challenge: AI and TIPSS
AI is transforming every aspect of society, from healthcare and finance to creative industries and public services. However, its rapid adoption raises profound questions about Trust, Identity, Privacy, Security, and Safety (TIPSS). Considering AI through a TIPSS lens is critical to ensuring that AI systems are not only technically robust but also socially acceptable and ethically sound, and we are able to anticipate and protect against their misuse by adversaries.
Trust in AI: How can individuals and organizations trust AI-driven decisions? What mechanisms—technical, legal, or social—are needed to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI systems?
Identity and Authentication: AI technologies increasingly underpin identity verification, from biometric systems to behavioural analytics. How do we balance convenience with resilience against spoofing, deepfakes, and identity fraud?
Privacy and Data Governance: AI thrives on data, yet large-scale data collection and processing pose significant privacy risks. How can privacy-preserving techniques (e.g., federated learning, differential privacy) be scaled and trusted?
Security and Robustness: AI introduces new attack surfaces, from adversarial examples to model poisoning. How do we secure AI systems against malicious actors while maintaining usability and performance?
AI tooling for Cybersecurity: AI enables automation in cyber response, as well as increasing the scale, scope and speed of cyber threat intelligence. However, we do not have a good understanding of the most effective ways for humans and AI to work together in cyber defence, nor in the dangers of relying on AI.
Safety and Societal Impact: Beyond technical safety, AI systems influence human behaviour, decision-making, and democratic processes. How do we anticipate and mitigate unintended consequences, bias, and harm? What happens when guardrails are removed?
Sandpit Outputs
Up to £224K of combined SPRITE+ and CRANE funding will be made available to fund interdisciplinary projects arising from this sandpit.
Funding might cover the costs of conducting scoping studies, research engagement with organisations and/or the public, feasibility studies, and demonstrators.
Expected Commitment from Participants
The sandpit will be run online and in person at the following dates and times in June-July 2026:
Session 1 (online): 3 June, 12:30 – 16:00
Session 2 (in-person residential in Oxford): 10 and 11 June from 10:30 on day 1 until 16:00 day 2
Session 3 (online): 17 June, 12:30 – 16:00
Session 4 (online): 1 July, 12:30 – 16:00
Participants must attend every session in full and will be expected to engage with each other and with project partners in between the formal sessions, to develop and refine their ideas. Suggested reading and videos may be provided before and during the workshop and participants are encouraged to explore relevant research and grey literature.
An application to attend will be taken to mean you are available for these dates and able to engage fully.
How to Apply
Applications are invited from SPRITE+ Members and Expert Fellows and CRANE Members from:
Academia (applicants must be eligible to receive UKRI funding, please see the UKRI Eligibility Guide)
Professional practice (non-academic)
All applicants should be registered members of SPRITE+ or CRANE. You can apply for SPRITE+ membership (which is free of charge) here and/or CRANE membership (which is free of charge) here.
Applicants should complete this short application form by 16:00 (GMT) 27 February 2026.
Further information
You can read our call document here: