Following the UK announcing plans to lead the G7 groups in AI adoption, the government has set out a package worth up to £2 billion to place the UK at the front of quantum technology. The Technology Secretary and the Chancellor announced the funding and the programme covers research, skills, manufacturing and procurement. The UK is committing to build large scale quantum computers on British soil by the early 2030s.
Ministers say quantum could add £200 billion to the economy by 2045. Estimates also show it could lift productivity by 7% over the next 20 years and create more than 100,000 jobs, with a £212 billion economic effect. Those projections come from the government’s announcement.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “I am determined this country grasps the benefits will Quantum computing will bring. It is only by keeping pace with technological progress that we can deliver the high-paid jobs, cutting-edge public services, and innovations which change lives.”
The new procurement scheme, ProQure Scaling UK Quantum Computing, will invite companies to build prototype machines for assessment. The strongest performers will then supply larger systems for scientists, the public sector and businesses through national computing infrastructure.
How Could Healthcare Change With This?
Health is one of the clearest examples ministers give. Researchers at University College London are already working on wearable brain scanners for people with epilepsy through Q-BIOMED.
Professor John Morton said: “This major new investment in the UK’s quantum ecosystem represents a leap in ambition to unlock the potential economic and societal impacts of quantum technology. At Q-BIOMED, this funding will accelerate our work on translating breakthrough quantum science into technologies that can transform healthcare through earlier diagnosis, enabling better treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.”
Professor Andrew Morris, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “Quantum sensing could transform how we detect and diagnose disease by enabling earlier intervention in conditions that are difficult to diagnose, offering less invasive alternatives to current tests and helping move care out of hospitals and into the community.”
He added that the £2 billion investment “signals real ambition to turn the potential of quantum into practice” and ties in with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England.
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What Does This Mean For Finance And Cybersecurity?
Banks and payments companies are keeping an eye out. Quantum computing can solve complex problems far faster than traditional systems, but it also changes the rules of encryption.
Philip Intallura, HSBC Group Head of Quantum Technologies, said: “Quantum computing is moving from promise to practical impact – unlocking new computational capabilities that can help solve complex realworld problems. It will also reshape how we think about cybersecurity, making it vital that we invest now in quantumsafe approaches.”
Alan Osborne, Chief Information Security Officer at Paysafe, said: “AI is already reshaping payments, but quantum will redefine the foundations of cybersecurity and trust. Getting ahead now is critical to securing the future of the global payments ecosystem – and, as a global financial centre, a major opportunity for the UK to lead the next generation of secure digital payments.”
Richard Baker, CEO and Founder of Tokenovate, said: “As these technologies begin to influence how capital markets operate, it’s vital that the underlying infrastructure stays ahead too.” He added that real time and interoperable systems will be “critical to ensuring new technologies can be deployed effectively and at scale, and that innovation translates into real economic impact.”
Where Else Could Quantum Make A Difference?
Energy, transport and national infrastructure are also being looked at. Professor David Cumming from the University of Glasgow said quantum timing systems can act as alternatives to satellite navigation, which can be jammed or spoofed. He said these technologies are “essential for securing critical infrastructure such as electricity grids, financial transactions, telecommunications, and transport networks.”
Professor Gerald Buller said the new funding will help the UK lead in quantum secured communications and the future “quantum internet”.
The government has already backed quantum research with more than £1 billion since 2014. This new £2 billion package builds on that base, with over £500 million for quantum computing, £205 million for sensing and navigation, £125 million for networking and £90 million for infrastructure.
