Cutting-edge quantum technology is being put to work to deliver
the government's Plan for Change, with a new £121 million
investment to help tackle challenges including crimefighting,
spotting the first signs of fraud and halting money laundering
which could save billions for the economy.
To coincide with World Quantum Day (Monday 14 April), the funding
is being made available over the next year to expand the use of
the technology, which uses the properties of the universe's
smallest particles to build ultra-powerful computers and sensors.
This will further secure the UK's position as a world-leader in
quantum as part of the government's long-term commitment to the
sector.
Today's investment is also giving the next generation of
researchers to the opportunity to bring their ideas for health,
cybersecurity and beyond to life. Their innovations, like quantum
technologies for tackling fraud, could birth thousands of jobs
and the businesses of tomorrow – supporting the Government's
economic mission and the Plan for Change.
This is the latest part of the UK's National
Quantum Technologies Programme: which sets out the long-term
effort to back early-stage research, and support getting quantum
technologies out of the lab and onto the marketplace. It sets the
UK on the pathway to deliver its ambitious National
Quantum Missions – our plan to make this tech deliver
for the private and public sectors.
Secretary of State for Science and Technology, said:
Quantum - manipulating the universe at its smallest scale - has
the potential to save millions for our economy, create thousands
of jobs and improve businesses across the country – stopping
fraudsters in their tracks, protecting our bank accounts and
more.
Backing our world-class quantum researchers and businesses is an
important part of our Plan for Change.
The UK is home to the second largest community of quantum
businesses in the world and this investment means they can go
further paving the way for new quantum tools and products that
make our lives easier, fuel growth, and help us tackle the great
challenges of our era.
Examples of use
The technology is already being harnessed, by using quantum
computing's unique ability to analyse complex data and detect
subtle patterns, to tackle fraud, one of the biggest challenges
facing society, which currently costs the economy £2.6 billion
each year.
Quantum specialists at HSBC bank have been working with
government backed partners like the National Quantum Computing
Centre (NQCC)to find ways quantum can be used to identify the
indicators of anti-money laundering. The support for the NQCC and
other cutting edge facilities across the UK, that we are
announcing today, is making this research possible.
This project is proof that, with strong support from the
government, researchers can harness quantum technologies to
benefit working people, nationwide – in this case, protecting
their bank accounts from would-be fraudsters and sparing them the
lost time and heartache this crime can cause.
The UK quantum sector is world-leading and home to the second
largest community of quantum companies globally, behind only the
US.This investment is the latest drive to deliver the
government's goal to unleash economic growth across the country
as part of the Plan for Change, by leveraging the potential for
breakthrough technologies like quantum to deliver new products,
create new businesses, and support high-skill jobs. It
builds on commitments such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan,
which will also benefit the UK's quantum innovators.
Notes to editors:
Full breakdown of today's investment:
-
£46.1 million through Innovate UK to accelerate the
deployment of quantum technology across a range of sectors,
including computing, networking, PNT (position, navigation
and timing) and sensing.
-
£21.1 million to further the work of the National Quantum
Computing Centre, including their testbed programme with
Innovate UK, with support from the Quantum Software Lab to
accelerate the discovery of more ways that quantum can
overhaul how we work and solve problems.
-
£10.9 million for the National Physical Laboratory's (NPL)
quantum measurement programme to encourage more businesses to
make full use of the technology
We're also backing the next generation of leaders in quantum
research to maintain the UK's position as a pioneering nation in
quantum technologies with:
£24.6 million in funding from EPSRC for the five
research hubs announced last year, including a £3 million
investment into training and skills programmes.
-
£15.1 million being awarded to 11 Quantum Technology Career
Acceleration Fellowships, by UKRI EPSRC, to find more
real-world applications for quantum, from drug discovery to
disease diagnostics
-
£4.3 million from Science and Technology Facilities Council
to back early- career researchers and Quantum- enabled
apprenticeships.
Today's announcement includes a round up of earlier investments
from ESPRC and Innovate UK, including support for
the five
research hubs and the Quantum
Missions Pilot competition, bringing the total commitment
from the UK Government over the next 12 months to £121
million.
This announcement comes as the government marks World Quantum
Day, an international initiative promoting awareness of the vast
capabilities of quantum science and technology. 53 countries are
hosting events, from research programmes to conferences.
