The UK government has announced a £10 million investment to establish what it describes as the world’s first national framework for quantum standards.
The new National Quantum Standards Network (QSN), 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.
Quantum technologies are expected to transform sectors including healthcare, financial services, transport and cybersecurity, with applications ranging from advanced computing and sensing to secure communications.
The government estimates that quantum technologies could contribute £212 billion to the UK economy and support up to 100,000 jobs in the coming decades.
The network will help establish standards covering everything from the ultra-precise lasers used in quantum computers to performance, energy efficiency and measurement requirements for quantum sensors.
The QSN will work with organisations including the British Standards Institution, the National Quantum Computing Centre, the National Cyber Security Centre and UKQuantum.
The government said the network will help ensure British businesses have a stronger voice in international standards discussions as the global quantum industry matures.
“Quantum could bring benefits to our society as significant as what we are seeing with AI, with the potential to deliver new medicines, better public services, and protect our finances,” said science minister Patrick Vallance. “The UK’s quantum sector is already a global leader.
“With the National Quantum Standards Network we will accelerate its growth, meaning more British jobs and investment into our economy from all over the world.”
In April, the UK government shared the news that a coalition of 13 countries has committed to deepening their cooperation in the development of quantum technology to ensure it is developed securely and responsibly.
The Quantum Development Group counts Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US among its members.
