Engineering news
A £270 million national quantum strategy, which outlines five core strands of action for stimulating growth in the country's fledgling quantum technology sector, has been launched by the Quantum Technologies Strategic Advisory Board.
The UK National Quantum Technology Programme, overseen by the Quantum Technologies Strategic Board, is set up to deliver a profitable quantum industry in the UK over the next 20 years in what it predicts holds billion-pound potential.
The strategy highlights that the biggest opportunities for the UK to exploit its advantage in quantum are in the finance, defence, aerospace and telecommunications sectors, and the $2.5 trillion world oil and gas industry.
Quantum mechanics underpins existing technologies including the microprocessor, solid state imaging devices, and the laser. However, the emerging quantum technologies, such as 6G smartphones, unhackable communications, and cameras that can see through the ground, are expected to rely on more subtle, less familiar aspects of quantum mechanics such as entanglement.
David Delpy, chair of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board, said: “This investment into Quantum Technologies represents the biggest single investment in a disruptive technology of the modern era. The UK has long been recognised as a world leader in quantum research, and we now have a real chance to build a solid and successful industrial base around that excellence in fundamental science and engineering. A concerted effort will allow for the creation of an industry that will deliver clear benefits back to the UK.”
The strategy identifies five core strands of action to help the UK capitalise on the quantum opportunity; create a £120 million national network of quantum technology hubs, involving 17 universities and more than 50 partner organisations, collectively contributing a further £60 million of support and investment for academia, industry and other partners to co-accelerate growth; identify and target potential markets and applications for quantum technologies which “have the potential to significantly change our lives”; grow a skilled UK workforce aided by the National Quantum Technologies Programme who will work with skills providers and investment and support for the free flow of people, innovation and ideas between academic, industrial and government organisations; develop a bespoke framework and effective governance structure to guide commercialisation of quantum technology by engaging both with a wide range of stakeholders and early and broad engagement with society; maximising UK benefit through international engagement with countries such as the US, Australia, China, Canada, Singapore and several European countries who are establishing or have already established centres of excellence in quantum technologies.
Professor Philip Nelson, chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), said: “Quantum science and technologies are going to change many, many aspects of the way we live, how we communicate and we do business. This strategy is really important in ensuring the UK stays in vanguard of this field. EPSRC is working with all four of the Quantum Technologies Hubs involved in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme to ensure the country makes the most of its assets and talents.”
Meanwhile, government has announced it will commit to spending £15 million to train the next generation of quantum engineers. The funding – via the EPRSC – will be used to create a number of quantum technologies ‘skills hubs’ across the UK, which will work in partnership with industry to deliver training and career development programmes for PhD students.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: “From cameras that can see through smoke to cracking down on internet fraud, quantum technologies are taking innovation to a whole new level and offer an unparalleled opportunity to shape the next generation of high-tech products that will improve our day-to-day lives.
“This £15 million investment will ensure we have the flexible, highly-skilled workforce needed to turn these futuristic ideas into a reality.”