UK Invests £9.5M to Lead Global Quantum Tech Race by 2035

Britain is placing a big bet on the future of computing, and the payoff could change everything from how doctors detect disease to how planes find their way without GPS.

The UK government has launched a national quantum technology strategy with five ambitious missions, all targeting completion by 2030 or 2035. At the heart of the plan is £9.5 million in funding now open to UK businesses ready to turn quantum science from lab curiosity into real-world breakthrough.

Jonathan Legh-Smith, CEO of UKQuantum, told attendees at the Mobile Network Innovation Summit in London that quantum technology is now recognized as a "critical frontier technology" in the government's industrial strategy. The missions aren't just about research anymore but about building companies that can lead globally.

The goals are specific and bold. By 2035, the UK aims to deploy quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations that outperform even the most powerful supercomputers. The country also plans to build the world's most advanced quantum network at scale, pioneering what experts call the future quantum internet.

Healthcare gets its own ambitious target. Every NHS Trust will benefit from quantum sensing technology by 2030, potentially revolutionizing how doctors detect and diagnose conditions. Quantum sensors can detect incredibly tiny changes that current technology misses entirely.

Aviation could see a transformation too. The strategy calls for quantum navigation systems and clocks on aircraft by 2030, providing location data without relying on GPS satellites. That means planes could navigate safely even if satellite systems fail or face interference.

Lisa Matthews, CEO of quantum security company KETS, said the focus is shifting from proving the technology works to actually deploying it at scale. Her company is developing quantum security hardware that fits into existing telecommunications equipment without exotic cooling systems or complicated installations.

The approach matters because it means quantum technology won't require operators to rip out and replace their entire infrastructure. Matthews emphasized that for quantum innovation to spread widely, it needs to work within existing systems at price points that make business sense.

The Ripple Effect

The UK strategy recognizes that quantum technology development is a team sport requiring collaboration across industries, not just quantum specialists. Callum Stirling from Innovate UK said the initiative deliberately seeks input from all industrial layers to scale adoption and develop real use cases.

Companies are already testing quantum-secure communications with major telecoms operators. Orange Business has been working with partners across North America and Europe to deploy equipment that protects networks against future threats from quantum computers that could crack today's encryption.

Mobile networked quantum sensors will unlock new capabilities across critical infrastructure in transport, telecommunications, energy, and defense sectors by 2030. These sensors could detect structural weaknesses in bridges, monitor power grids with unprecedented precision, or provide early warning of equipment failures.

The funding calls continue rolling out in phases. The current round focuses on component-level technologies, while upcoming calls will target adoption and integration. Industrial test beds are launching soon to evaluate technologies in conditions that reflect real operator networks.

By 2035, the UK envisions a landscape where quantum capability isn't just a research achievement but a cornerstone of national competitive advantage and everyday infrastructure.