The UK government has announced it will invest £106 million in five hubs to develop the use of quantum technology in medical scanners, secure communications networks and next-generation positioning systems. Working with industry partners, the hubs will be based at universities in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and London.
UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub (University College London and University of Cambridge): researching quantum sensors for ultrasensitive disease diagnostics, including rapid blood tests, and biomedical scanners to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. UK Quantum Technology Sensing, Imaging and Timing Hub (University of Birmingham): focusing on developing quantum sensing for practical applications, such as brain scanners for dementia, cancer diagnostics, and advanced security and infrastructure monitoring. Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Hub (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh): aims to deliver technology to enable a “quantum internet” across the UK in the future, future-proofing cybersecurity and powerful distributed quantum computing. Quantum Computing Hub with Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (University of Oxford): developing technologies to build quantum computers, improving UK capabilities across hardware and software, for applications across a wide range of industrial sectors. UK Hub for Quantum-Enabled Positioning, Navigation and Timing (University of Glasgow): creating quantum-based positioning and navigation systems for critical infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and improved indoor and underwater navigation.
The plans were announced at the University of Glasgow by Science Secretary Peter Kyle, who said the hub would “bring together researchers and companies, using scientific expertise and talent alongside commercial know-how and resources to develop breakthrough quantum technologies that will have a direct impact on people’s lives in areas such as healthcare, security and clean energy.”
The hubs are delivered by UK Research and Innovation Engineering and the European Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with investment of £106 million from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the UKRI Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
