UK Government Launches Two New Quantum Funding Programs Totaling £75 Million ($96M USD)

The first investment announced by British Research and Innovation (UKRI) with funding of £45 million ($57.7 million USD). The financing is divided into four areas, including:

• £8 million to fund 12 projects exploring quantum technologies for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT)
• £6 million for 11 projects working on software enabling quantum computing
• £6 million for feasibility studies of 19 projects in quantum computing applications
• £25 million for seven quantum-enabled PNT projects through Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)

The new funding was announced by UK Science Minister George Freeman at London Tech Week. Additional details can be found in the news release posted on the UKRI website Here.

The second investment was announced by the UK National Quantum Computing Center (NQCC) and has £30 million ($38.4 million USD) in funding to develop a quantum computing testbed (i.e. a prototype quantum computer) in the UK. The center has issued a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) with a closing deadline of June 26, 2023. Proposals could include both gate-based and analogue-based quantum computing testbeds but the testbeds must be capable of operating at the system level and being able to execute quantum algorithms or analogue quantum processes. The competition will be open to all existing organizations registered in the UK or have a registered office in the UK. After the EOI submission has been evaluated, it is full Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition is operated in partnership with British innovation expected to launch in September 2023. Additional information about this NQCC testbed program is available on two pages of the NQCC website Here And Here.

June 17, 2023