The UK government has announced a landmark £670 million ($908.6 million USD) investment dedicated to accelerating the application of quantum computing over the next decade. This substantial commitment is a cornerstone of the newly published Digital and Technologies Sector Plan, integral to the government’s modern Industrial Strategy aimed at driving national renewal and fostering sustained economic growth. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed the funding, with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) hosting Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister for Science, to highlight the initiative’s direct engagement with leading UK quantum companies.
This significant funding provides a 10-year settlement for the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), marking it as one of the first organizations to receive such long-term certainty. The investment is designed to bolster research, accelerate the development of quantum hardware, and facilitate the transition of quantum technologies from laboratory to real-world applications. The UK’s ambition is to develop quantum computers capable of outperforming conventional supercomputers by 2035, promising transformative impacts across healthcare (e.g., new drug discovery), environmental solutions (e.g., advanced carbon capture), and enhanced national security.
The government’s renewed focus underscores the strategic importance of developing sovereign quantum capabilities amidst intense global competition and concerns over foreign acquisition of UK-based quantum firms, such as Oxford Ionics and the quantum unit of Oxford Instruments by U.S. entities. Industry leaders, including Gerald Mullally of OQC and Tom Grinyer of the Institute of Physics, have publicly supported this investment, emphasizing its criticality for maintaining the UK’s leadership in this foundational technology. This quantum investment is part of a broader over £1 billion ($1.356 billion USD) package targeting various frontier technologies, including engineering biology and semiconductors, under the UK’s updated Industrial Strategy.
Read the full announcement here, explore the comprehensive Industrial Strategy policy paper here, learn more about the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan here, and see the related post from OQC here.
June 23, 2025
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