Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has announced a £9.5 million ($12.2m) fund to support quantum computing and quantum network projects. Eligible UK businesses will be able to apply for a share of the funding, with projects expected to align with the UK government’s five ‘Quantum Missions.’
The missions provide milestones for investment and research that will secure what the government called the UK’s “status as a world leader in the technology.” The final two missions have a deadline of 2035 and will see quantum computers capable of running one trillion operations, in addition to the deployment of an advanced quantum network that will enable the future Quantum Internet.
In a statement, Innovate UK said projects “must identify one or more key technological barriers or limitations and propose an innovative project that will address them.” Quantum computing projects must take the form of hardware development and will be eligible for up to £3m ($3.9m) in funding, while quantum network projects will be eligible for up to £1m ($1.3m). We particularly encourage projects in the intersection of both themes, for example, networking of quantum computers to advance information processing,” Innovate UK said, adding that funding for projects that span both computing and networking will also be able to receive up to £3m ($3.9m).
