Quantum technologies have been evolving rapidly and continue to do so, promising faster computation and classically unachievable sensitivity. As a result, significant levels of investment are going into the development of quantum computers and sensors.
A burgeoning community of scientists, innovators, and investors is generating new ideas and breakthroughs from climate modelling to secure encryption and quantum computing and that community came together at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase in November.
Speakers from the Office for Quantum, UK Quantum, the National Quantum Computing Centre and the Quantum Communications Hub were in attendance and heard the then Science Minister, George Freeman MP, outline the government’s ambition in support the sector.
Elsewhere Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, described the organisation’s role as a funder, catalyser and convener of the research and innovation community.
“Our role is to link these kinds of transformative technologies right across our economy, connecting the extraordinary research base that we have in fundamental discovery science through to the incredible range of applications that are possible in Quantum. That’s the goal for UKRI – to connect discovery to prosperity for public good as quickly as possible.”
To date, Innovate UK have invested over £200m of grants, leveraging up to £550m of co-investment with 180 companies collaborating and innovating in the field.
“All of this is happening at a time when transformative technologies are moving way up the government agenda,” said Dame Leyser.
Industry support
The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) recently made a series of announcements that look to take support for the industry further.
It announced the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) which will provide funding worth over £10 million for 6 projects to accelerate the development of components and systems for quantum network technologies, with the aim of transforming the way in which information is securely distributed.
Over £4 million has also been allocated to strengthen collaborative research and development through Canada-UK partnerships to develop real-world quantum technologies for commercial use. In total 11 projects will focus on developing quantum networking, sensing, and scalable solutions to quantum computing alongside developing the supply chain.
Speaking to New Electronics after the event Ashley Montanaro, Co-Founder & CEO of quantum algorithms company Phasecraft said, "Since its creation, the UK's National Quantum Technologies Programme has supported a vast amount of exciting R&D within both academia and industry.
“At Phasecraft, support from the NQTP has enabled us to collaborate with partners to develop quantum algorithms for modelling battery materials, solar cells, and telecommunications networks. The announcement earlier this year of the UK's ten-year vision for a National Quantum Strategy, including a further £2.5bn of support, will enable the UK to continue to take a leading position in this field.”
Autumn Statement
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent Autumn Statement was generally well-received by the sector, and he acknowledged that the government is exploring the use of quantum technologies in the public sector.
According to the statement, “The National Quantum Computing Centre is supporting government and industry to explore how quantum computing could be applied and HMG has launched a Catalyst fund bringing together quantum innovators and government departments to identify and develop near- and longer-term applications.”
Hunt said that the government was looking to build on the National Quantum Strategy by publishing a set of quantum missions, including a mission to have accessible, UK-based quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations by 2035, with operational and algorithmic advancements in critical economic sectors.
According to the strategy, these missions, developed through collaborations among government, industry, and experts, will look to leverage quantum computing power, advanced navigation systems, precision sensors, and enhanced medical diagnostics to drive economic and societal benefits.
The strategy also plans to roll out a sophisticated quantum network, laying the groundwork for a future quantum internet. It will amplify computing power, ensure nationwide connectivity, and foster early commercial opportunities, as well as positioning the UK as a leader in quantum networking standards.
In terms of healthcare every NHS Trust is set to benefit from quantum sensing solutions by 2030. This initiative will focus on early diagnosis and advanced surgical procedures for conditions like dementia, epilepsy, and cancer by using quantum-enabled products to improve patient outcomes.
The missions that were detailed also include the development of quantum navigation systems that will provide much greater accuracy and resilience, independent of satellite signals. This is seen as crucial for developing sectors like robotics and drones.
Infrastructure resilience will also benefit with networked quantum sensors used to enhance situational awareness across transport, telecoms, energy, and defence sectors ensuring improved maintenance, safety and efficiency.
The development of quantum computers tends to hit the headlines and often overshadow interest in quantum sensing. This can be attributed to a simpler ‘elevator pitch’, in that they offer an exponential reduction in computation time enabling far more complex problems to be solved than at present.
And while everyone uses a computer, the prospect of a much faster and more capable computer is one that they can appreciate and understand.
“By contrast to quantum computers, quantum sensors are far more application specific but are likely to have a massive impact on a wider range of devices, each with a limited number of specific use cases,” said Dr Tess Skyrme, Senior Technology Analyst, IDTechEx.
Device types include magnetic field sensors, gyroscopes, gravimeters, photodetectors, and even atomic clocks. Use-cases for these sensor types range from remote current sensing in electric vehicles and biomagnetic brain scanning to underground mapping and precision navigation.
Consequently, the value offered by quantum sensing is specific within industries and this has tended to lead to more technology-to-application specificity and a more fragmented ecosystem than quantum computing.
“The UK government’s response, like many others around the world, is now one in which it is committed to sensing, component manufacturer, and imaging is much the same way as it is to quantum computing and this suggests that governments see real societal benefits in supporting the development of quantum sensors,” suggested Dr Skyrme.
Yet, while public money is broadly split equally between quantum computing and quantum sensing, the flow of private investment is far more focused on quantum computing.
“While significant progress is being made to miniaturise quantum sensing technology using semiconductor and MEMS fabrication techniques, many existing fabs have not invested in going quantum – instead focusing on more established, high-volume applications,” explained Dr Skyrme, who went on to warn that without more 'quantum fabs, ' opportunities for spin-outs to operate with a fabless business model would be limited, which could stall the industry.
Standards
The UK’s quantum strategy wants to position the UK as a leader in quantum networking standards. To that end, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) recently announced the launch of a UK Quantum Standards Network Pilot to ensure the UK is at the forefront of establishing global standards for quantum.
NPL in collaboration with BSI, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Quantum, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) will provide a focal point on standards for UK industry.
Well-crafted, consensus-based standards are seen as being critical in helping the broader quantum industry to develop efficient supply chains and build confidence among customers and stakeholders to invest in and use new quantum-based applications and technologies. This network pilot will look encourage direct involvement in standards development and to shape standards that will influence expectations for the global quantum industry.
The long-term aim of the pilot is to evolve into a centre that coordinates the UK’s engagement with international standards, so ensuring that the UK continues to be at the forefront of the quantum revolution.
Rhys Lewis, Head of Quantum Programmes at NPL, said, “As set out in the UK quantum strategy, a coordinated approach to standardisation is an essential element for the successful realisation and adoption of quantum technologies. This network pilot will be a major component in maintaining the UK as a world leader and influencer in this exciting and game changing field. The coordinated approach, tested and developed in the pilot, will be a significant input into a future UK Quantum Standard Centre.”
Is the government doing enough?
While many have called the government’s recent announcements ‘bold’ and ‘encouraging’, doubts have been raised as to whether it’s doing enough.
Quantum Motion, for example, which is one of the UK’s leading scale ups in quantum computing development was heavily engaged with the government as it looked to frame its approach to the industry.
According to its CEO James Palles-Dimmock, “The UK is a global leader in quantum computing, with the world’s second highest number of quantum computing startups, providing a magnet for talent and investment. We are well placed to challenge the dominance of markets like the US in creating the giant technology brands of the future.”
Referring to the Autumn Statement Palles-Dimmock said that the UK government had consulted with the quantum industry to narrow down the moonshots, so that it can better tackle the key challenges in building a useful quantum computer by 2035.
“The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is an important catalyst for this activity and will act as a showcase for the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.”
However, while he said that there was a lot to be celebrated in how the UK is being transformed into a tech-driven economy, with quantum computing at the forefront and the government should get credit for its work in removing some of the barriers to execute on the strategy in terms of new visa programmes getting the UK back into Horizon Europe, there were some real concerns.
“It’s worrying that the UK is excluded from some programmes under the European Chips Act and our national semiconductor strategy hasn’t yet provided answers on how we’re going to grow a thriving semiconductor industry, which goes hand in hand with a commercially successful quantum strategy.”
That last issue goes back to the point made by Dr Skyrme about the need for significant investment by the semiconductor industry in ‘quantum fabs’ and, as yet, the government’s approach towards the UK’s semiconductor industry, particularly its manufacturing strategy, remains unclear.
Stuart Woods, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Quantum Exponential, said that the missions announced by the government were bold and contained some genuinely exciting and visionary thinking.
“The plan to implement quantum technology wide scale in the NHS to save money is particularly welcome and our expertise in medical quantum sensing is already world-class – this could greatly accelerate point-of-care diagnostics.”
However, he questioned the government’s financial commitment warning that as it stands, it will struggle to translate visionary thinking into practical, implementable action.
“Based on the US’s 2022 CHIPS Act, adequately funding these missions could cost £25bn; the National Quantum Strategy Missions statement instead makes no financial commitment. While it’s encouraging to see a commitment from the government across the spectrum of quantum technologies, it is simply not practical for the UK to strive for ‘world-leading’ status in such a range of deep technologies with a £2.5bn, inadequately defined national quantum strategy.”
UK governments don’t have a great record in funding new technology and in supporting UK business and while there is funding available the millions on offer is well short of the billions we can see being made available to the UK’s competitors, whether that’s the US, EU or Japan.
Are we again going to hear the mantra ‘too little, too late’ when it comes to establishing a viable, dynamic and independent quantum industry here in the UK?
