Runway is making London its European home. The company announced the city as its new European headquarters and a dedicated research hub focused on general world models, with a plan to invest $100 million into the UK AI ecosystem over the next 18 months — a figure it says will more than double through 2028.
A European HQ for World Models
The London hub anchors Runway’s growing European research and commercial footprint as it advances AI systems that can simulate the world. The company is also partnering with leaders across the UK on the strategic implications of world models and simulation, an acknowledgment that governments and businesses should shape how frontier AI develops.
World models extend generative AI far beyond media — into robotics, scientific research, industrial simulation, and any domain that depends on understanding and predicting physical environments. The UK’s concentration of AI research, creative industries, and serious government engagement made it the right base for that work, Runway said.
The $100 Million Commitment
- $100 million planned investment in the UK AI ecosystem over 18 months
- Figure more than doubles through 2028 as European operations scale
- New hires focused on advancing general world models alongside teams in New York and San Francisco
Momentum in Europe
Runway’s expansion follows real traction: Europe is its second-fastest growing market, even without a major commercial presence until now.
- 50 percent increase in subscription sales volume in Europe over the past twelve months
- Millions of users across the region
- Over 20 percent of the enterprise customer base based in Europe, including BBC, Fremantle, and WPP
The momentum extends beyond filmmakers and marketers to enterprises in gaming, robotics, and simulation that see world models as foundational.
Building the Team
To lead the effort, Runway is hiring a Head of Europe to build out a team spanning research, product, engineering, sales, and customer deployment. The role is meant to bridge the UK’s creative industries and its broader enterprise and research landscape — from media and advertising to gaming, robotics, and industrial simulation.
UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan welcomed the move, calling London’s new hub exactly the kind of investment that shows AI creating jobs in Britain now.
What This Means
For Runway, the London HQ converts years of organic European growth into a structured commitment. For the UK, it is a name-brand signal that frontier AI research — in this case world models — is moving off the Pacific coast. The milestone also highlights how Runway sees its future: less a video tool company, more an ambition to build the simulated world intelligence behind robotics, science, and industry, with Europe as a partner rather than an afterthought.