The UK’s Innovate UK has launched a competition to accelerate Quantum Computing (QC) and Quantum Networks (QN) technologies, aiming to increase their capabilities and remove technological barriers to commercialization and adoption.
The competition, which opened on November 4, 2024, invites businesses to propose innovative projects that address key technological barriers or limitations in QC and QN. Projects must focus on one of two themes: Quantum Computing, which involves developing innovative quantum hardware, or Quantum Networks, which aims to deliver an innovative technical solution to enhance scalability.
The competition encourages a portfolio approach, funding a variety of projects across different technologies, markets, and computing or networks themes. Applicants can collaborate with subcontractors from the UK or overseas, but must justify their selection. Innovate UK expects projects to comply with welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation. The competition closes on December 11, 2024, and successful applicants will be notified by January 31, 2025.
Eligibility and Application
- Lead organizations must apply for funding and enter their project costs into the application.
- Non-UK partners can participate with their own funding, and their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.
- Subcontractors are allowed, but UK-based suppliers should be prioritized. Overseas subcontractors require a detailed rationale and justification.
Project Requirements
- The project must address one or more key technological barriers or limitations in QC or QN technologies.
- Proposals must focus on one of the two themes: Quantum Computing (QC) or Quantum Networks (QN).
- For QC projects, the proposal must outline innovative quantum hardware development, including testbeds at an advanced stage or follow-up developments to existing testbeds.
- For QN projects, the proposal must describe the implications of the addressed barrier on businesses and demonstrate a competitive technical solution.
Key Deliverables
- A plan for further developing and exploiting the solution within the UK.
- The project must exploit second-generation quantum technologies, involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states.
- For QC projects, the testbed must be capable of running quantum algorithms or analogue quantum processes by the end of the project.
Portfolio Approach
- The funding agency aims to support a variety of projects across different technologies, markets, and computing or networks themes.
Specific Themes
- Projects can focus on one or more of the following themes: Quantum Computing (QC) or Quantum Networks (QN).
Timeline
- Competition opens: 4 November 2024
- Online briefing event: 14 November 2024
- Competition closes: 11 December 2024, 11:00 am
- Applicants notified: 31 January 2025
- Project start date: 1 April 2025
Additional Requirements
- Compliance with UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.
- No funding will be provided to individuals or entities directly or indirectly involved with sanctioned countries, administrations, or terrorist groups.
Overall, this competition aims to accelerate the development of QC and QN technologies by addressing key technological barriers and limitations. Applicants must demonstrate innovative solutions that can lead to commercialization and widespread adoption.
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