27/03/2026
With the government’s recent announcement of a major new package of support for quantum technologies, the UK is positioning itself at the forefront of a field with significant promise, albeit still in its early stages. At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and dominating much of the conversation surrounding innovation, quantum technologies are beginning to attract similar attention for their potential to unlock capabilities that remain beyond the reach of conventional computing.
The headline figure, up to £2 billion of investment, conveys the scale of the government’s ambition. Rather than waiting for the technology to fully mature, the UK government wants companies to start building and testing early large‑scale quantum systems over the coming years, with the aim of deploying operational machines by the early 2030s.
Quantum Computing
Quantum computing isn’t simply an incremental improvement in existing computing power, but instead takes a fundamentally different approach to tackling complex problems. While traditional computers process information step by step, quantum systems can evaluate vast numbers of potential solutions at once. In principle, this could open the door to advances in areas such as drug discovery, materials science, financial modelling, and secure communications.
That said, quantum computing still remains a technically challenging field. Many of the most ambitious applications are still at the research stage, and significant engineering hurdles must be overcome before large‑scale, fault‑tolerant systems become a reality.
This is why the government’s new procurement programme, “ProQure: Scaling UK Quantum Computing”, is particularly noteworthy. The idea is to support the development of prototype systems now, evaluate them, and then scale up the most promising designs. The hope is that this phased approach will support the growth of UK‑based companies, while strengthening domestic supply chains and creating conditions that attracts private investment from around the world.
The UK’s quantum ecosystem is already showing encouraging activity, including the installation of a 100‑qubit system at the National Quantum Computing Centre and new partnerships with international companies. These developments suggest that the UK’s long-term investment – dating back to the launch of the National Quantum Technologies Programme in 2014 – is beginning to bear fruit. Still, the field remains globally competitive, and sustained support will be needed if the UK is to maintain a leading position.
Other Quantum Technologies
Beyond the headline-grabbing promise of quantum computers, significant funding is also being directed toward quantum sensing and navigation. Many technologies in these areas are significantly closer to commercial deployment than quantum computing (as discussed in our earlier article here).
For example, Quantum sensors have a wide range of applications in the medical space among others, some of which are already at the early stages of commercialisation. The UK government’s press release mentions diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions such as epilepsy or Alzheimer’s as particular applications of medical quantum sensors.
Quantum navigation also utilises quantum sensors, to enable accurate navigation without the use of conventional GPS, for example by using inertial navigation. Such technologies have immediate applications in the defence and transport industries, and could protect us all against possible disruption to GPS-based systems in the future, for example due to solar storms or deliberate sabotage.
These technologies could offer the prospect of nearer‑term benefits, even as work towards large‑scale quantum computers continues.
Intellectual Property
As with any emerging technology, it is difficult to predict exactly how quantum innovation will unfold. What is clear, though, is that the UK is making a deliberate, long-term commitment to being not just an active participant, but a potential leader in this space.
From an intellectual property perspective, the scale of activity expected in the coming years means that securing protection for new quantum‑related innovations will become increasingly important.
Moreover, the collaborative nature of many quantum-based projects, often involving joint research between industry, academia, and government, means that careful consideration of an IP strategy should be made at an early stage to avoid issues arising down the line.
If you are working in a quantum field and would like to learn more about the intellectual property protection available to you, then please do get in touch.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
