A$2.7 billion* funding influx — announced by UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Chancellor Rachel Reeves in March 2026 — has made the UK the first to pursue delivering quantum computing capabilities at this scale. As a strategic first move, the UK is committing over $1.3 billion to build out large-scale quantum computers by the early 2030s, aiming to combine quantum R&D, manufacturing, software and hardware procurement into a single national program. It’s an initiative that falls in line with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, as technology serves as a core sector of the country’s economy.
“The UK’s plans on quantum are around accelerating and driving forward market opportunity and to give certainty to investors,” says UK Department for Business and Trade Director for Investment, North America Matthew Ashworth. “The tech sector is now shifting more from the R&D side and proof of concept into fully commercial and scaling.”
*approx. 2 billion British pounds (conversion rate: US$1 = £0.740634)
Not Starting from Scratch
Asked about the industry ecosystem that exists today, Ashworth takes a moment to widen the scope. The UK is No. 1 in Europe and No. 3 globally by number of quantum technology unicorns, he points out, and in many ways the country is a quantum world leader already.
In 2024, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle announced the launch of five National Quantum Research Hubs: UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub (Q-BIOMED, University of Cambridge); UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing (QuSIT, University of Birmingham); Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Quantum Technology Hub (Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh); QCI3: Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (University of Oxford) and the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation and Timing (University of Glasgow).
“Looking ahead, it’s about large-scale deployments of quantum computers, which then requires that scaled-up infrastructure,” says Ashworth. “HPC integration, cryogenics and the insights gathered through this announcement will establish exactly what those infrastructure requirements are to then lay the foundation.”
Aside from its investment to procure large-scale quantum computers, another $1.3 billion will be spread across initiatives rolling out over the next four years targeting UK companies and researchers. About $18.6 million will go toward the five hubs, supporting researchers working across health care, energy and national security with access to the world’s most powerful technology.
In addition, the National Quantum Computing Center (NQCC) and the University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab will receive $27 million to independently test, benchmark and validate quantum computing systems. Other initiatives include over $676 million dedicated to helping companies scale and develop new uses for quantum technology in areas such as pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy; more than $541 million to support breakthroughs in sensing and navigation; over $277 million for quantum sensing and navigation to accelerate innovations in medical diagnostics, greenhouse gas monitoring and ultra-secure communications and more than $121 million to fund quantum infrastructure and $27 million in new skills and communications programs to meet evolving industry needs. Quantum networking will also receive $169 million in dedicated funding.
“We’re trying to build a quantum of quantum,” says Ashworth. “The initial plan for the $2.7 billion goes up to 2030, but then it’s looking beyond that. This could have a $270 billion economic impact over the next two decades, creating over 100,000 jobs.”
U.S. Companies Move In
When Colorado-based quantum startup Infleqtion revealed a $50 million investment to establish its global quantum computing operations at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in July 2025, it was also deploying vital quantum hardware at the NQCC in Harwell, UK.
The company’s 100-qubit quantum computer, dubbed Sqale, became the first neutral-atom platform of its kind to be used in an operating national facility in December 2025. Researchers and industry partners at NQCC now have the capacity to run various quantum operations at the same time. According to Infleqtion, this parallel processing approach is expected to advance gate speed, enabling complex quantum algorithms to run faster and more efficiently.
At Cambridge University, IonQ will introduce its own Quantum Innovation Center with a goal of boosting quantum research commercialization. The Maryland-based trapped ion quantum computing systems developer announced the new partnership in March 2026, which will soon see the deployment of IonQ’s sixth-generation, chip-based, 256-qubit system at the university.
In a move that will mark foundation quantum technology manufacturer Vescent Technologies’ first international expansion, the company has announced its new UK entity will be housed at the National Physical Laboratory’s Institute of Quantum Standards and Technologies in Teddington. Vescent said its decision to expand in the UK reflects the country’s current position in quantum computing, next-generation quantum timing and timing distribution. Backed by expertise found at the National Physical Laboratory, innovative research conducted at leading research institutions and a skilled talent pool, the UK emerged as an ideal fit for global expansion.
“The UK offers a unique environment for scaling breakthrough technologies,” said Vescent CEO and Co-Founder Scott Davis. “Establishing our presence here enables us to deepen our partnership with NPL and expand with other leading industry and government players, as well as universities, to collaborate more closely with and better serve customers across the UK and Europe.”
The multibillion-dollar investment also supported the launch of the “ProQure: Scaling UK Quantum Computing” procurement program. The unique program invites global companies to submit proposals — ranging across hardware, processors and manufacturing — to partner with the country to build prototypes for evaluation.
Ashworth notes this program is generally focused on incentivizing international companies, as they can apply for up to $18 million in phase one to develop, build and validate integrated quantum computing hardware and software to demonstrate commercial scale deployment and solution applications.
“You don’t have to be a British firm to do this at all, but come set up in the UK and be a part of the ecosystem and then you can be a part of this massive procurement drive,” says Ashworth. “It’s definitely attracting interest in the U.S., Canada, Europe and into Asia as well. It’s quite exciting.”
