The UK government is doubling down on its support for the field of quantum with £14m set to back a series of projects finding viable use cases for quantum sensing technology.
The Quantum Sensing Mission Primer awards, funded by Innovate UK, will support more than a dozen projects that demonstrate how quantum-powered sensor technology can transform diverse areas from healthcare to transport to defence.
The projects include a new type of portable eye scanner that could replace the large and expensive OCT machines relied on by hospitals and a sensor for civil engineers to detect buried structures.
“Quantum technologies are changing the world – from ultra-sensitive sensors to help diagnose diseases through to the potential of a new type of computer that can do things in seconds that would take today’s computers decades to compute,” said Science Minister Lord Vallance.
“The UK already has considerable strengths and lots of exciting new companies have sprung up in the UK. The funding and agreements being announced today aim to support this exciting and important growth area right across the country.”
The awards were announced as part of the National Quantum Showcase, a gathering of researchers, investors and policy makers.
Also announced at the showcase are several international partnership agreements to advance the quantum sector.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, adding to recent partnerships with Canada, Singapore and France.
Quantum computing has advanced significantly in the past year, with Anglo-American deep tech firm Quantinuum announcing just this week the launch of Helios, described by the firm as the world’s most accurate quantum computer.
