Commercialising Quantum Technologies: CRD & Tech round 2

The aim of this competition is to advance the commercialisation of quantum technologies in the UK and increase private sector investment.

Your proposal must exploit second generation quantum techniques.

These are defined as those involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. Technologies involving single photon generation and quantum computing are regarded as being within scope.

You must address one of two options:

Option 1: Collaborative Research & Development (CR&D)
Identify a clear market opportunity for a quantum product or service and an innovative project which exploits it.

Option 2: Technologies
Describe a technological barrier to the commercial or industrial exploitation of quantum technologies in the UK and deliver a solution.

Your project must:

• have total eligible costs between £2 million and £20 million. The total grant requested must be below £10 million.
• start by 1 April 2022
• end by 31 March 2025
• have a duration of 24 to 36 months

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered business of any size
• collaborate with other UK registered businesses, research organisations, public sector organisations or charities
• involve an SME
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

If a research and technology organisation (RTO) wishes to lead a project, you must provide justification by email to support@innovateuk.ukri.org. This must be at least 10 working days before the closing date. We will decide whether to approve your request.

Academic institutions cannot lead or work alone.

Option 1: CR&D

Identify a clear market opportunity for a quantum product or service and describe how your innovative project exploits it.

Your project must:

• demonstrate a commercially viable solution
• provide evidence of performance
• include an end-user assessment
• provide a roadmap of future exploitation

Option 2: Technology

Describe how you will deliver a solution that overcomes barriers to the commercial or industrial exploitation of quantum technologies in the UK, for the benefit of UK quantum businesses.

Your project must:

• outline the technological barrier’s implications to businesses
• describe a credible solution and how it is innovative and competitive
• evaluate the value it will add to the UK quantum industry
• provide a roadmap of future exploitation

Common requirements for both options

You must also exploit second generation quantum techniques. These are defined as those involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. Technologies involving single photon generation and quantum computing are regarded as being within scope.

You must describe how you will collect project metrics, including:

• investment in addition to the project partner matched funding
• additional capital investment aligned to or dependent on the project outcomes

We want to fund a portfolio of projects, across a variety of technologies, markets, technological maturities and research categories.

Your project must focus on one or more of the following themes:

1. Connectivity: techniques for securing data in storage and in flight.
2. Situational Awareness: autonomous systems. Sensors and detectors for the built environment, transport and infrastructure. Imaging and sensing “seeing things currently invisible”.
3. Computing: Transformational computers for solving currently intractable problems.

KTN will be holding an online briefing event at 10am on 10th March 2021: click here for details.