The UK government has announced £106 million in funding for five new quantum research hubs based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and London. These centres will focus on delivering breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare, cybersecurity, clean energy, and transport through the practical application of quantum technology. Researchers and businesses will work together, combining scientific expertise with commercial resources to bring ideas to market. Peter Kyle, Science Secretary, said, “These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions. They will not only transform sectors like healthcare and security, but also create a culture of accelerated innovation that helps to grow our economy.”
The UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub at the University of Cambridge and University College London will advance ultra-sensitive disease diagnosis and biomedical scanning. The UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing at the University of Birmingham will focus on developing quantum sensing for practical applications, including dementia and cancer diagnostics, advanced security, and infrastructure monitoring. The Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Hub at Heriot-Watt University aims to deliver cybersecurity and distributed quantum computing for a future UK-wide ‘quantum internet.’ The Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations at the University of Oxford will develop quantum computer technology for a wide range of industry sectors. Additionally, the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation, and Timing at the University of Glasgow will create quantum-based positioning and navigation systems for critical infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and improved indoor and underwater navigation.
The UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will deliver the five hubs, funded by EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. While the funding has been welcomed, policymakers have called for more decentralised funding initiatives. The general partner at OpenOcean, Ekaterina Almasque, said, “For quantum startups to thrive, we must see more decentralised funding initiatives like this one across the UK, expanding our horizons beyond the traditional tech hubs of London and the South East. This approach not only spreads economic growth but also helps to cultivate vibrant startup ecosystems in all four corners of the nation.”
