Chancellor Rachel Reeves, (right) alongside tech secretary Liz Kendall (left), has announced a “pioneering programme” worth up to £2bn of government investment to ensure the UK stays at the forefront of quantum innovation.
The UK aims to become the first country to benefit from revolutionary quantum computers, sensors and networks through the funding, and support the emergence of the next generation of British companies who will “help shape the curve of progress.”
Quantum could be technology’s next great generational leap, and could rival AI as the defining technology of the future. While a traditional computer solves problems using a one-by one approach, a Quantum system explores thousands of potential answers at once – theoretically slashing the time it takes to reach a solution.
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Today’s announcement makes the UK the first country in the world to commit to advanced procurement to build large-scale quantum computers on our shores by the early 2030s. By joining R&D, manufacturing, software, hardware and procurement into a single programme, the government hopes to make the UK world leaders in developing and deploying large-scale Quantum computers.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: ”I am determined this country grasps the benefits will Quantum computing will bring. It is only by keeping pace with technological progress that we can deliver the high-paid jobs, cutting-edge public services, and innovations which change lives.
“Today’s announcements are an investment in our future - unlocking better health, wealth, and more opportunities for communities across the country.
“This government is ushering in a Quantum leap – making the choice today to back UK scientists, companies, and innovators so we can deliver a future that works for all.
The first-of-its-kind procurement programme will launch next week, with companies invited to table proposals to partner with the government to deliver state of the art prototypes for evaluation.
Prototypes will be assessed, with the most promising companies invited to deliver larger scale machines for use by scientists, researchers, the public sector, and businesses, as part of the national computing infrastructure and “transforming the UK into a hotbed for the latest, cutting-edge Quantum technology.”
Government estimates suggest quantum could boost productivity by 7% in the next two decades, creating more than 100,000 jobs in the process. That would mean £212bn worth of economic impact – the equivalent of the combined annual GDP of Wales and Northern Ireland.
The UK is already a global powerhouse in the technology, launching a first of its kind National Quantum Technologies programme in 2014 which has already been backed by more than £1bn in public funding to support skills, research, and infrastructure. Our credentials as a global magnet for private investment are also thriving.
Coinciding with today’s announcements, several global companies are announcing technical breakthroughs delivered in the UK, as well as new and recent investment commitments including:
Infleqtion have delivered a 100qubit quantum computer at the National Quantum Computing Centre, marking a significant step forward in developing large-scale systems for operational capability
Vescent has selected the UK’s National Physical Laboratory for its next office outside the US, backing worldleading talent and expertise across UK institutions
IonQ have formed a major strategic research partnership with Cambridge University. This will create the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, hosting IonQ’s most advanced 256-qubit computer, accelerating research and discovery in the UK
The measures set out today will, the government claims, lay the foundations for new investment, jobs, and improved public services across the country, as well as cement the UK’s position as a global leader in the emerging technology which will shape the future.
