UK government announces £45 million funding package for quantum projects

The UK government has announced a £45 million funding package to boost the use of quantum technology across a number of sectors, including healthcare, energy, and transport. This comes as quantum technologies is now recognized as one of the five critical technologies set out by the UK government in its UK Science and Technology Framework.

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)  will make a £30 million ($38m) investment into a competition for the development and delivery of quantum computing testbeds. The additional £15m will come from the Quantum Catalyst Fund to “accelerate use of quantum in government” by inviting organizations to put forward projects that provide use cases for quantum technology in both the private and public sectors.

“As we steer towards an economy benefitting from quantum, this further £45 million in funding underscores our commitment to support bright UK innovators who are pushing boundaries and seizing the potential of this technology to transform our public services,” said science minister Andrew Griffith.

He added, “The UK is already one global leader in quantum and to maintain that position this government will continue to invest in this transformational technology propelling the UK into a new era of technological prowess and economic growth.”