Celebrating 100 years of quantum
As we celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), marking 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics, the UK has particular reason to be proud of our quantum journey. The IYQ provides a chance to celebrate the deeply exciting human achievements in quantum science and technology over the past century.
As the UK’s dominant funder of engineering and physical sciences, we are immensely proud of the investments we’ve made, and continue to make, that have contributed to the growth of this technology.
We, Lydia and Tracy, have the privilege of jointly leading the quantum technologies team at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), one of the nine partners who make up UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Our team has the responsibility for, and pleasure of, setting and delivering quantum technologies research strategy.
A bit of history!
We are writing this from the UK, where we have the pleasure of participating in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP). Formed in 2014, this programme has grown over the past decade to deliver £1 billion of investment. It operates as a collaborative partnership between industry, academia and government. The NQTP aims to deliver economic prosperity and national security to enhance UK citizens’ lives. It does this by nurturing the most exciting UK research and innovation talent, whilst accelerating the commercialisation and adoption of quantum technologies.
We work with our NQTP partners:
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Innovate UK
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
- GCHQ
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Department of Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
Our collaborative funding approach has firmly established the UK as a global leader in quantum technology. The UK ranks third globally for the quality and impact of our quantum research. It’s recognised as one of the top two countries worldwide for the creation of quantum companies and company growth through attracting investment. The UK is now home to the largest number of quantum start-ups in Europe and attracts more capital investment than any other European country.
Our quantum achievements this year
International engagement
It has been an exciting year for us internationally. Just under half of our small team recently visited Tokyo to deliver the Japan-UK Joint call for Quantum Technologies for Innovation call. This partnership programme will support internationally competitive collaborative research projects between Japan and the UK. It focuses on the development of quantum technologies, creating leading international researcher networks, and nurturing early career researchers to build a thriving quantum sector in both countries.
We have also continued to strengthen our engagement with European partners through QuantERA, a flagship initiative supporting collaborative, cross-border research in quantum science and technology. We are supporting the Applied Quantum Science topic, where UK researchers can lead or join diverse international consortia. This work translates quantum principles into real-world applications and contributes to a thriving, interconnected international quantum ecosystem.
Building quantum talent
This year we have invested in a new generation of fellows. This supports promising early career researchers in preparing to take on world-leading positions in the future, ensuring the UK maintains its position as a global force in quantum technology. This investment in emerging leaders provides an invaluable opportunity to advance responsible research and innovation.
In mid-October we convened our new fellows, alongside other fellows and representatives of our key investments at all career stages. The event fostered collaboration, enhanced professional skills, and built a strong, supportive network of future leaders. It also provided a valuable opportunity for EPSRC and attendees to shape thinking around research challenges and broader strategic issues.
We were delighted to run our inaugural Early Career Forum meeting in September 2025. We spent a great day networking and sharing ideas with this group of highly engaged individuals who will serve on the forum for the next three years. We will run further recruitment during April 2027, so please keep an eye out if you are interested in joining us!
And there is more to come for quantum skills. Investing in skills requires constant calibration, needing to balance across career stages, addressing cross-cutting skills such as commercialisation, innovation, responsible research and innovation, and always with an eye on diversity and inclusion. This is a significant challenge but one that is our privilege to confront in collaboration with our fantastic community of stakeholders.
Delivering quantum excellence
This has been an exciting year for our Phase three Quantum Technology Hubs, with an intense year of launch events, outreach work, new partnerships and an additional injection of support from us to enhance their training and skills offering. We are currently conducting an evaluation of phases one and two of our research hubs, which we anticipate will highlight the benefits these investments have brought us.
The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) successfully entered operation in April 2025. Its dedicated team are working hard to deliver on its objectives. These include supporting quantum readiness, providing engineering excellence and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Also, consolidating itself as a trusted authority to appraise progress, validate and, of course, deliver its own R&D programme on quantum computing for the UK.
As well as hosting a suite of external suppliers’ platforms on site, the NQCC has made great strides in its in-house R&D programme. They published its first scientific paper from this core research programme. On top of all this, the NQCC will play an integral part in the delivery of Quantum Mission One.
Working in partnership
Our partnerships are essential. Alongside our partner STFC, we have supported the official operational commencement of the NQCC. We have launched a competition with Innovate UK to improve the transport sector by accelerating the development of innovative quantum sensing technologies. This aims to solve transport challenges and increase the efficiency and resilience of transport critical national infrastructure and transport platforms.
We have continued to share thinking with partners in the NPL. When NPL hosted EPSRC’s Business Engagement Forum we linked our most promising start-ups with industrial partners, showcasing what quantum can do for big business. As always, our collaboration with our defence and security agencies is strong, and partners have given their time generously in helping with various peer review activities.
All partners are committed to readying the economy for quantum technologies, and it has been great to get out on the road together. For example, when EPSRC and the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) co-presented at an event designed to bring in the cybersecurity community, showcasing the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance on preparing for post-quantum cryptography.
What is next?
We are very excited about the 2025 National Quantum Technologies Showcase. It will be a huge celebration of how quantum is accelerating its commercial impact and adoption, transforming technologies, and reshaping UK and global markets. The Showcase is also a key moment for international engagement, with delegations from across the world attending to explore collaboration opportunities and connect with UK researchers, companies, and institutions. This growing international presence reflects the UK’s role in a global quantum ecosystem and reinforces the importance of cross-border partnerships in driving innovation.
Don’t miss open and future funding opportunities. We’re excited to mention our upcoming activity in green critical technologies. This will encompass not just quantum but also other critical technology areas, focusing on how these technologies can mitigate the climate crisis without contributing to it. This investment showcases the types of challenges where EPSRC, as part of UKRI, have the power to move the needle, looking into the future and anticipating our community’s role in helping solve some of humanity’s most pressing problems.
Lastly, we look forward to more work with our partners across the NQTP. It will be an important year for progressing the National Quantum Strategy Missions, which will be a team sport, involving DSIT, EPSRC, Innovate UK, STFC, NPL and our defence and security agencies. Academic researchers play a vital role across all four strategic goals of the National Quantum Strategy, from foundational science to commercialisation and adoption. We look forward to sharing some truly exciting announcements and stimulating challenges. Here’s to an exciting future, and we can’t wait to see you at the Showcase on 7 November!