Quantum Technology Hub Set to Launch with £100M Investment

A £100 million investment will establish a quantum technology hub in Birmingham, aiming to advance technologies with significant applications in healthcare, security, and clean energy.

Birmingham is set to become a leading centre for quantum technology with the establishment of one of five new quantum technology hubs across the UK. Announced by Science Secretary Peter Kyle, this £100 million investment will fund hubs in Birmingham, Oxford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London, focusing on developing cutting-edge quantum technologies with applications in healthcare, security, and clean energy.

The University of Birmingham will spearhead the creation of the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging, and Timing. This hub aims to develop advanced sensing technologies capable of detecting the invisible, such as identifying gas leaks before they pose a threat or locating hidden objects that could be dangerous. Additionally, the hub will focus on practical quantum sensing applications, including brain scanners for dementia and cancer diagnostics.

The funding for these hubs is provided by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with contributions from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The total investment from EPSRC alone amounts to £106 million.

Peter Kyle, speaking to The Guardian, emphasised the significant potential of quantum technology: “We are at the foothills of where quantum technology is going to take us, and that provides a huge opportunity for British science and British research and development. If we get this right, we can become global leaders, which means not just solving challenges domestically and creating opportunities domestically, but being able to fully exploit the global market as well.”

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