The government has announced 14 projects that will receive £14 million of funding under the Innovate UK Quantum Sensing Mission Primer award to support the development of next-generation sensors that can be used in healthcare, transport and defence.
The funding announcement coincides with the National Quantum Technology Exhibition, which has brought together thousands of researchers, investors and global policymakers in London. The government is positioning the event as a step forward in unlocking the enormous potential of quantum technology to drive economic growth and national renewal, as well as tackle major challenges such as health and climate.
Projects include a portable eye scanner that could replace the large and expensive optical coherence tomography machines currently used in hospitals, as well as a new type of sensor that would allow civil engineers to detect underground structures without the need for expensive excavations.
Along with project funding, the UK National Center for Quantum Computing signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology of Japan. The government hopes the memorandum of understanding will facilitate UK-Japan collaboration on quantum computing research, as well as the exchange of talent.
Through £30 million from Innovate UK support, seven quantum computing test beds have been deployed at the National Quantum Computing Center. This will allow enterprises to demonstrate and validate new quantum computing technologies.
Earlier this week, the National Institute of Metrology – Kvant – opened at the National Physical Laboratory. The UK co-chairs the Quantum Research and Development Partnership in the G7 countries and Australia.
“Quantum technologies are changing the world – from ultra-sensitive sensors that help diagnose disease to the potential of a new type of computer that can do in seconds what today's computers would take decades to do,” said Science Minister Patrick Vallance. “The UK already has significant strengths and there are many exciting new companies coming to the UK. The funding and agreements announced today are designed to support this exciting and important area of growth across the country.”
The support package includes the Atomic Weapons Establishment's Quantum Center for Nuclear Defense and Security, which is working with the University of Strathclyde to bring quantum computing and sensing to nuclear science and technology.
There is also a £300,000 government investment to renew the Scotland-California quantum and photonics partnership, which involves quantum researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde, St Andrews, Heriot-Watt and Glasgow, along with colleagues from Stanford and Caltech.
The government's industrial strategy includes £670 million for quantum computing. Among his goals is the development of quantum computers by 2036 that can outperform conventional supercomputers.
UKQuantum, the industry body for quantum computing in the UK, has welcomed the UK's plans to build quantum computing.
“The achievements of the UK National Quantum Program over the last 10 years have positioned the UK as one of the world’s leading quantum nations,” said Jonathan Legh-Smith, chief executive of UKQuantum.
“Our companies have developed world-leading technologies across the quantum domain, including sensing, imaging, clocks and computing, with active participation in sectors such as transportation, finance, telecommunications and defence.”
