Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £32.8 million from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The funding will be provided for projects developing supply chains for sensing and position, navigation and timing (PNT) applications using second generation quantum technologies. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received.
The aim of this competition is to stimulate the supply chain for sensing or PNT solutions enabled by quantum technologies. Projects will bring together the supply chain partners for a sensing system integrator, or manufacturer, to accelerate commercialisation of quantum enabled sensing systems. By solving the innovation challenges slowing commercialisation, projects will strengthen the UK’s position as an integral part of the quantum technology supply chain.
This is a single phase competition. Our experience from similar competitions suggests that you could have a 20% chance of success.
Who can apply?
This competition is open to collaborations only.
To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application.
To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:
No one partner may account for more than 70% of the total eligible costs or more than £3 million in grant funding, whichever is less.
An eligible business can only lead on one application. Any further applications by the same organisation as lead will be made ineligible.
An eligible business that is leading an application can be included as a collaborator in two further applications.
Any organisation not leading an application can collaborate in any number of applications.
If you submit more than one application, you must calculate any funding awarded for projects that are for the same or substantially the same activities or purpose. The total must not exceed £3 million.
You can claim up to £3 million per project where each project is materially different.
- business of any size
- academic institution
- charity
- not for profit
- public sector organisation
- research and technology organisation (RTO)
Eligible projects
Your project must:
Any organisation receiving funding must carry out its project work in the UK, intend to exploit the results in the UK, and spend most of the funding within the UK.
- have total grant funding request between £4 million and £6 million
- last between 36 and 41 months
- not start before 1 November 2026
- end by 31 March 2030
Scope
The successful commercial adoption of quantum enabled position, navigation and timing (PNT) and quantum sensing products will require collaborations involving capability from across the quantum supply chain. Comprehensive supply chain engagement is required to overcome the innovation challenges currently slowing commercial uptake.
The aim of this competition is to stimulate the supply chain for sensing or position, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions enabled by quantum technologies. Projects will bring together the supply chain partners for a sensing system integrator or manufacturer, to accelerate commercialisation of quantum enabled sensing systems. By solving the innovation challenges slowing commercialisation, projects will strengthen the UK’s position as an integral part of the quantum technology supply chain.
Your project must address the challenge of a quantum enabled system integrator, or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), relevant to quantum sensing or PNT, or address multiple cross platform challenges.
Projects must:
We particularly encourage projects that:
Your demonstrator must rely on second generation quantum technologies. Second generation quantum technologies are defined as those involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. We consider technologies involving single photon generation and detection to be in scope.
While a system integrator or an OEM is not required to be a partner, the relevance of that challenge to the end organisation must be evidenced at the proposal stage, and appropriate engagement must be included in the project to ensure market uptake.
- deliver an industrially relevant, deployable demonstration of the quantum enabled sensing system
- demonstrate a practical and credible route to market by including a plan to commercialise the sensing solution
- undertake the majority and critical project work in the UK
- plan to further develop and exploit the solution within or from the UK
- address challenges applicable to various technologies, quantum enabled sensing or PNT products, or application areas
- bring a broad consortium from across the quantum sensing supply chain to deliver the project
- address challenges such as advanced packaging and ruggedisation
- demonstrate key component development, miniaturisation and improved efficiency, for example in fibre coupling
Briefing and support
An online briefing was held at 2pm on Thursday 11 June: click here for the recording and slides.
If you would like help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Quantum team.
