Visiting the University of Oxford’s Quantum Technologies Hub, Jo Johnson said: “The government is ensuring major new discoveries happen here. This new funding builds on our protection for science spending by supporting research in our world-leading universities and helping to train the science leaders of tomorrow.”
£167m will be shared between 40 UK universities to support Doctoral Training Partnerships over a two year period, and £37m will be invested into the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme to support cutting-edge research across the UK and help develop student skills.
The £37m funding includes investing £25m in new equipment at seven university-based quantum institutions, and £12m to help train researchers starting out their careers in quantum engineering. Together they will help ensure the UK is in a leading position to benefit from the huge potential of quantum engineering for major global industries like computing and consumer electronics.
Professor Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: “Quantum technologies promise to revolutionise the way we live our lives. It is a pleasure to welcome the minister to Oxford to announce support for this key research area that will help us continue to train the leading scientists of the future”
The funding is a part of the government’s £6.9billion investment in science labs and equipment up to 2021, and protection of the science budget at £4.7bn per year for the rest of the Parliament.
