The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has announced that it is committing funding to new quantum research hubs, with the aim of improving lives in a number of key areas.
Thanks to £100 million of government investment, five new quantum research hubs will be opened across the UK, as it looks to improve outcomes in sectors such as healthcare, security, and clean energy. These new innovations will contribute to the delivery of the government’s aims of rebuilding Britain and accelerating economic growth.
This will be done as the technology will help to make the NHS more efficient, as well as keeping people safer through the future-proofing of cyber security.
Five hubs will be opened around the UK, in the following locations:
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- London
- Birmingham
- Oxford
In Glasgow, the hub will work to develop technologies that will improve position, navigation and timing systems that will support national infrastructure through aerospace, autonomous vehicles, finance, maritime, and agriculture. Alongside this, smaller devices will be developed that can be used in transportation systems such as roads and railways.
Healthcare will be supported through the UK Quantum Sensing Research Hub in London, with new sensors for ultra-sensitive disease diagnosis being developed. This will work in areas such as rapid blood testing and biomedical scanners to unlock earlier diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Alongside this, the Birmingham hub will focus on practical applications for quantum sensors, including brain scanners that can detect dementia and cancer.
The Edinburgh hub will focus on developing the ‘quantum internet’ which will improve cybersecurity.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
“We want to see a future where cutting-edge science improves everyday lives. That is the vision behind our investment in these new quantum technology hubs, by supporting the deployment of technology that will mean faster diagnoses for diseases, critical infrastructure safe from hostile threats and cleaner energy for us all.
“This isn’t just about research; it’s about putting that research to work. These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions. They will not only transform sectors like healthcare and security, but also create a culture of accelerated innovation that helps to grow our economy.”
UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will deliver the hubs, with the funding being brought in from numerous sources, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council.
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