Google DeepMind will establish its first research laboratory dedicated to discovering new materials —such as those used in batteries and semiconductors — as part of its broader push to apply artificial intelligence across scientific disciplines.

The new facility, set to open in the UK next year, forms the core of an expanded partnership between Alphabet Inc.’s Google and the British government announced on Thursday. Under the agreement, Google will adapt several of its AI models, including Gemini, for use by scientists, educators and public-sector employees in the country.

DeepMind described the lab as its first fully “automated” research site, where robotics will conduct scientific experiments with minimal human involvement. The company did not disclose costs or staffing details.

For Google, the UK partnership marks a strategic gain in its effort to persuade governments to adopt its cloud services and the Gemini AI model — a competitive arena also targeted by Microsoft Corp. and OpenAI. It also underscores DeepMind’s ambition to deepen its work in materials science, already one of its key focus areas. A growing number of startups, including several founded by former DeepMind engineers, are betting that advanced AI systems can dramatically speed up and reduce the cost of discovering novel materials.