UK Government Awards $19M to Quantum Projects

The U.K. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Innovate UK have awarded $18.7 million to 30 quantum projects that will benefit the public sector via a UK Quantum Catalyst Fund competition.

The initiative intends to harness the potential of quantum technologies in diverse sectors such as healthcare, transport and net zero, and aligns with the government’s vision of integrating quantum solutions for public advantage.

As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Program, which has been running since 2014, the Quantum Catalyst Fund competition underscores the country’s ambition to be a global quantum technology leader. The recognition of quantum as a pivotal technology places it alongside other critical areas like artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

“We are determined to continue to invest and lead from the front in quantum infrastructure, regulation, standards and skills to fully exploit its potential to drive new economic opportunities,” said Department for Science, Innovation and Technology minister George Freeman.

“Our Quantum Catalyst Fund will help to push the boundaries of this technology’s development and use public sector procurement to help nurture new companies and deliver benefits for citizens in public services to benefit us all.”

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The award will fund new feasibility studies that will investigate quantum’s potential to enhance public services. The analysis includes exploring quantum-assisted brain imaging techniques for epilepsy, concussion an dementia treatment, and optimizing energy grids with quantum computing to help achieve net zero.

Successful initiatives from this phase will transition to the second phase to develop prototypes. The budget for the phase two projects is $16.2 million over 15 months.