The UK government has announced £50 million of funding for businesses developing quantum technologies designed to improve rail reliability, speed up NHS diagnosis and strengthen national security.
The government said the funding, delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will help companies commercialise quantum technologies and bring them closer to real-world deployment.
Among the projects receiving support is West Midlands-based MoniRail, which is developing a quantum monitoring system it claims will be capable of pinpointing faults in railway tracks and signalling equipment in locations where GPS signals are unavailable. The technology aims to help engineers identify problems more quickly, reducing delays for passengers.
Bristol-based Siloton has secured funding for a handheld quantum eye scanner designed to bring advanced eye diagnostics into community settings, reducing reliance on specialist hospital appointments and helping to shorten NHS waiting lists.
Oxford-based ColdQuanta UK intends to use the funding to develop a compact quantum radio system capable of accurately locating radio signals. The technology could support military operations, improve the resilience of critical infrastructure and assist emergency services in search and rescue missions, UKRI said.
Other projects include a wearable brain scanner from Cerca Magnetics, a satellite clock from Quantum Fabrix, and greenhouse gas monitoring technology from QLM Technology.
Alongside the £50 million competition, UKRI announced a further £20 million to strengthen UK supply chains for quantum communication networks through its Enabling Commercial Quantum Networking competition.
The organisation is also investing £8 million to expand its QuEST Apprentices Programme, with the aim of training 150 apprentices in engineering and quantum-related skills by 2030 to help meet growing demand across the sector.
Science, innovation and investment minister Chris McDonald said: “Quantum has long been an exciting technology, but now real world applications are within our grasp.
“UK innovators are showing us what these breakthroughs could mean for our lives in the near future, from cutting down on train delays, to earlier appointments at in-demand areas of the NHS, to keeping our armed forces safe and connected as they protect our country.”
In June, the government announced a £10 million investment to establish what it described as the world’s first national framework for quantum standards.
The National Quantum Standards Network, led by the National Physical Laboratory and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will bring together government, industry and academia to develop common standards for quantum technologies.
The government said the initiative aims to help UK companies develop products that meet internationally recognised standards, making it easier to commercialise innovations and sell them in global markets.
