Funding will push UK toward the forefront of quantum innovation.
Five new quantum research hubs backed by over £100 million of UK government funding will deliver breakthroughs in healthcare, cybersecurity and transport.
The hubs – based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and London – are to develop practical use of quantum technology in areas like medical scanners, secure communication networks and next-generation positioning systems
Researchers and businesses will work together to develop this quantum technology – backed by a total of over £100 million from the UK government.
As announced by the Science Secretary Peter Kyle, the hubs will bring researchers and businesses together to use their scientific expertise and talent alongside the commercial know-how and resources to develop groundbreaking quantum technologies that will directly impact people’s lives in areas like healthcare, security and clean energy.
The Science Secretary made the announcement on a visit to the University of Glasgow, who will lead one of the hubs aiming to develop quantum technologies for resilient position, navigation and timing systems in national security and critical national infrastructure. This technology can offer enhanced accuracy and reliability in sectors including aerospace, autonomous vehicles, finance, maritime and agriculture.
The hub will also develop smaller, lighter devices that use quantum technology. These devices could be used in transportation systems like roads, railways and underground networks by replacing GPS and improving systems that help vehicles find their way.
These new hubs will be centres for advancements in areas like quantum-enhanced blood tests, faster MRI scanners, and new surgical interventions and treatments. This could mean faster detection of diseases like cancer, allowing for earlier medical interventions and potentially saving lives.
The hubs will also explore technologies crucial for national security. This could see aircraft operating with improved positioning systems that are resistant to GPS jamming or submarines able to operate for extended periods without relying on satellites.
Additionally, research into a ‘quantum internet’ could create secure and future-proof communication networks, safeguarding sensitive data and communications infrastructure.
Along with the University of Glasgow, the other hubs are:
- The UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub (University College London and University of Cambridge): Explores quantum sensors for ultra-sensitive disease diagnosis, including rapid blood tests and biomedical scanners to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
- UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing (University of Birmingham): Focuses on the development of quantum sensing for practical applications – brain scanners for dementia, cancer diagnostics and advanced security and infrastructure monitoring.
- Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Hub (Heriot-Watt University): Aims to deliver the technologies for a future UK-wide ‘quantum internet’, enabling future-proof cybersecurity and powerful distributed quantum computing.
- Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (University of Oxford): Develops technologies for building quantum computers, advancing UK capabilities across hardware and software and targeting applications in a wide range of industry sectors.
The hubs will be delivered by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a £106 million investment from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Charlotte Deane said: “Technologies harnessing quantum properties will provide unparalleled power and capacity for analysis at a molecular level, with truly revolutionary possibilities across everything from healthcare to infrastructure and computing.”
UK Quantum Hub funding: Reactions
Professor Gerald Buller, Director of the IQN Hub
“The Integrated Quantum Networks Hub will provide the underpinning research required towards the establishment of a UK-wide quantum network. Harnessing excellent research from a wide range of partners, it will deliver quantum networks at different scales, from local data centres to inter-city links and up to global satellite connections. Establishing a widescale quantum internet could have impact across all sectors, predominantly allowing future-proof security for data communications, as well as linking up quantum computers and sensors with benefits ranging from healthcare to materials research, artificial intelligence and many others.”
Professor Rachel McKendry, Co-Director of the Q-BIOMED Hub:
“Q-BIOMED is the first UK Quantum Research Hub dedicated to health and positions the UK at the forefront of this exciting new field globally. We are bringing together an outstanding team of researchers from academia, the NHS, charities, government, regulators and industry to help accelerate advances in quantum for human health and societal good. The ultimate beneficiaries of earlier diagnosis will be patients through faster access to life- saving treatment and the NHS though more cost-effective models of care. We also hope to grow an innovation ecosystem working with industry and international networks of excellence with leading researchers worldwide.
Professor Douglas Paul, Project Lead for the QEPNT Hub:
“Much of the UK’s critical infrastructure relies on the accurate measurements of time, direction and speed which enable us to stay in constant contact with communications satellites. Currently, those connections are vulnerable to disruption through technical problems or deliberate malicious actions like signal-jamming.
If those connections are lost for any reason, it would have a huge impact on key industries like energy, finance, communications and transport, causing an estimated economic loss of a billion pounds a day until service is restored.
This new hub will support the development of new and improved forms of atomic clocks, quantum gyroscopes and quantum accelerometers. Those technologies, integrated into portable and affordable future devices, will help reduce our reliance on satellites by providing new ways to locally measure position, navigation and timing.
Unlike current technologies, they will work indoors, underground and in all weathers, helping to bolster the UK’s national security and offering new applications for industry.”
Professor Michael Holynski, Director of QuSIT:
“We are delighted to form a new Quantum Technology Hub in sensing. Our aim is to accelerate the commercial development of quantum sensing, imaging and timing devices, which will result in real societal and economic benefits.
We look forward to working closely with our partners, the other new QT Hubs, our funders EPSRC, and the wider academic and industry communities to ensure quantum technologies deliver their best for society.”
Professor Dominic O’Brien, Director of the QCI3 Hub:
“The QCI3 Hub brings together industry, academia and government partners to deliver new applications, ideas and innovations that will advance the field of quantum computing, impacting areas such as materials science, chemistry, finance and logistics. The Hub will train a new generation of scientists and engineers, providing the critical skills for a UK quantum economy, whilst also developing the commercial skills needed for those looking to play key roles in the UK’s growing quantum industry. Our rich partner network will ensure that our research is grounded around real-world problems and that we are able to transfer technology out of the lab to make meaningful impact.”
Kevin Curran, IEEE senior member and professor of cybersecurity, Ulster University
“The field has seen significant progress recently, driven by improvements in qubit quality, error rates and scalability, alongside substantial investments from large tech companies and startups. The availability of quantum computing through cloud services has also democratized access, enabling more widespread research and development. There has been considerable growth in hybrid quantum-classical algorithms, which combine classical and quantum computing strengths to tackle complex problems. Researchers have also expanded the portfolio of quantum algorithms with potential exponential speed-ups over classical methods.
“All of these developments signal a shift towards more practical and impactful quantum computing applications. However, a key challenge remains in error correction, with advancements here being potentially transformative. Additionally, the development of new quantum algorithms could significantly enhance the utility of quantum computers. Predicting a near-term breakthrough in quantum computing is complex due to the interplay of technological advancements and theoretical innovations.”
“While many experts suggest that practical, scalable quantum computers that consistently outperform classical systems may still be a few years away, there is optimism about achieving specific milestones soon. The next five to 10 years will likely be crucial for witnessing significant advancements in this area.”
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