Quantum computing applications for large scale impact: CR&D

Overview

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £13 million in collaborative R&D projects developing high-impact quantum computing software applications for near-term quantum systems.

The competition is focused on real-world industrial, economic, public sector and societal challenges where quantum computing could deliver a practical advantage over classical approaches. Projects should demonstrate clear potential for commercial value or wider social impact, particularly in sectors where quantum computing could become a significant disruptor.

Successful projects will need to develop and validate quantum software applications on near-term quantum computing systems, demonstrate their performance and provide a credible route towards adoption, exploitation and future scaling in the UK.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to develop and implement high-impact quantum software applications that realise the commercial value and broader social value of near-term quantum computers.

Projects must:

• identify a clearly defined industrial or public sector problem where quantum computing will have a major impact
• develop and implement quantum computing software to address that problem
• present a solution based on knowledge of the full stack of the quantum computing system
• demonstrate execution, benchmarking and validation on near-term quantum computing systems, including cloud-based platforms, or simulate such execution
• aim to show that quantum approaches offer potential advantages over classical methods, now or in the near term
• detail end-user, industrial or public sector engagement to define requirements and assess utility, commercial value and broader impact
• present a credible plan for adoption, exploitation and future scaling in the UK in the context of the organisation’s technology or strategy roadmap

Projects are particularly encouraged where they align with national priorities such as energy systems, infrastructure, transport, financial services, healthcare, climate resilience, security and productivity.

Key themes and topics

Projects must focus on one or more of the following:

• healthcare and drug discovery
• finance
• optimisation for transport and infrastructure
• design and simulation of new materials
• quantum machine learning

Projects will not be funded where they:

• do not focus on solving a particular problem
• do not deliver quantum software as their main output
• do not intend to assess the commercial value and broader impact of the developed solution
• develop exclusively classical software, including quantum-inspired algorithms
• would directly duplicate scope and costs from other UK government or international initiatives that have been or are currently funded
• do not include delivery of significant and critical activities in the UK

Projects also cannot be funded if they are:

• dependent on export performance, where subsidy is conditional on exporting a certain quantity of products to another country
• dependent on domestic inputs usage, where subsidy is conditional on using a set percentage of UK components in a product

Project duration

Projects must:

• Last 24 to 36 months
• Must start on 1 February 2027
• End by 31 January 2030

Award value

Grant funding request between £300,000 and £4 million.

Funding rates

For industrial research projects, purposeful research that builds new knowledge and skills to improve or develop products, processes or services, often through prototypes or system components that validate ideas in realistic settings, organisations can get funding for eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if they are a micro or small organisation
• up to 60% if they are a medium-sized organisation
• up to 50% if they are a large organisation

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs.

Eligibility criteria

• Projects must be collaborative and led by a UK registered business of any size
• Projects must include at least one other grant-claiming organisation
• Collaborators can be a UK registered business of any size; an academic institution; a charity; a not for profit; a public sector organisation; or a research and technology organisation (RTO).
• Subcontractors must be preferably UK-based with fully justified and appropriate costs.
• All funded project work must be carried out within the UK.
• Projects must intend to exploit the results from or in the UK.
• Subsidy control and State aid rules apply through the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme under the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

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