Overview
This competition supports the development of deployable prototypes for enabling components and sub-systems used in future commercial quantum networking systems.
Delivered by Innovate UK through a Contracts for Innovation competition, the programme is designed to strengthen the UK’s role in the quantum technology supply chain by accelerating technologies that can support system integrators and service providers.
Projects must develop a prototype, show how it fits into a wider quantum networking system, and demonstrate a credible route to commercialisation within or from the UK.
Scope
The commercial adoption of quantum networking technologies will require deployment through system integrators and service providers, who are supplied by quantum technology vendors.
The aim of the competition is to accelerate the development of enabling components and sub-systems for quantum networks. These will be in the supply chain of a system integrator or service provider, for deployment in a future commercial quantum networking system. This is to strengthen the UK’s position as an integral part of the quantum technology supply chain.
Proposals should detail an intended use case for a quantum networking system, into which the component or sub-system will be integrated. This can be the applicant’s own quantum networking system, for which the component or sub-system is being developed.
Projects must deliver:
- an industrially relevant, deployable prototype of the component or sub-system
- a System Design Document (SDD), which details a system design or roadmap to illustrate how the developed component or sub-system will be integrated into a larger quantum networking system
- a Prototype Validation Report (PVR) that details the results of a test or demonstration of the prototype
The System Design Document should include expected technical specifications for the system and be informed by relevant system integrators and service providers for the full system use case.
The Prototype Validation Report should clearly show how the prototype enables the system detailed in the SDD to meet its technical specification. The report should also demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of use for the component or sub-system and the deployment context of its intended use.
The component or sub-system prototype must use second generation quantum technologies. These are defined as technologies involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. Technologies involving single photon generation and detection are in scope.
Projects must:
- develop a prototype of an innovative component or sub-system for use in a quantum networking system
- outline how the component or sub-system will be used to meet the technical specifications of a quantum networking system, and validate the prototype in this context
- engage with relevant system integrators and service providers
- undertake the majority and critical project work in the UK
- plan to further develop and exploit the solution within or from the UK
Applications must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market and include a plan to commercialise the results.
Research category: prototype development and evaluation
This can include prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real-life operating conditions. The primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set.
Projects will not be funded if they:
- are not original in scope and duplicate someone else’s work
- do not use second generation quantum technologies
- are covered by existing commercial agreements to deliver the product or service
- do not generate industrially relevant, deployable prototypes
- do not generate system-level designs or roadmaps
Key themes and topics
Projects must focus on one or more of the following as an intended use case for a quantum networking system. Where multiple apply, applications should choose the option that is most applicable.
- enabling long-distance quantum networking, including hybrid quantum and classical communications
- networking of quantum computers
- networking of quantum sensors, including for time transfer
- techniques for securing data in storage and in flight
Project duration
18 months
Must start on 1 September 2026
End by 28 February 2028
Award value
Contract value between £1.5 million and £3 million, inclusive of VAT
Funding rates
100% funded
Eligibility criteria
- Projects must be led by an organisation of any size
- Contracts will be awarded to a single entity only
- Subcontractors can be used for specialist skills and can be businesses, research organisations, research and technology organisations or the third sector(charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups)
- You must select whether you are VAT registered before entering your eligible project costs
- If you are VAT registered, you must enter your eligible project costs exclusive of VAT and your total eligible project costs inclusive of VAT must not exceed £100,000
- If you are not VAT registered, you must enter your eligible project costs exclusive of VAT and your total project costs must not exceed £100,000
Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service
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