£45 million investment to drive breakthroughs in brain scanners, navigation systems, and quantum computing

ACCELERATING the use of quantum technology to improve healthcare, energy, transport and more has received a major boost as Science Minister Andrew Griffith announces £45 million of investment.

The projects receiving funding include the development of a high tech brain scanner using quantum technology, aiming to improve the diagnosis of disorders such as epilepsy and dementia, and a smart navigation system for trains, using quantum sensors to save costs and enhance safety in tunnels. These initiatives represent cutting edge advancements, being developed here in the UK, that could revolutionise healthcare and transport.

Quantum technologies hold the potential to tackle intricate problems that currently surpass the capaCities of even the most advanced classical computers and will allow us to reach new frontiers in sensing, timing, imaging, and communications.

During a visit to Cerca Magnetics, a University of Nottingham spin out company supported through the National Quantum Technologies Programme, Minister Griffith will outline how this £45 million funding supports the Government's vision to transform into a quantum enabled economy by 2033.

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund and the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) have invested £30 million through a competition to develop and deliver world leading quantum computing hardware prototypes. Another £15 million from the Quantum Catalyst Fund is set to accelerate use of quantum in Government. Both initiatives will enable quantum technologies to be used in real life applications, both in the private and public sector.

Science Minister, Andrew Griffith MP, said:- "As we steer towards an economy benefitting from quantum, this further £45 million in funding underscores our commitment to support bright UK innovators who are pushing boundaries and seizing the potential of this technology to transform our public services. cutting edge work on a quantum enabled brain scanner, which will be a beacon of hope for those battling neurological conditions, is just 1 example. The UK is already 1 global leader in quantum and to maintain that position this Government will continue to invest in this transformational technology propelling the UK into a new era of technological prowess and economic growth."

Quantum technologies are recognised as 1 of the Government's 5 critical technologies as set out in the UK Science and Technology Framework. They already offer possible solutions to some of society's greatest challenges and provide future capabilities that are yet to be explored.

Over the next 10 years, quantum technologies are expected to revolutionise many aspects of life in the UK and bring enormous benefits such as helping to grow our economy and create well paid jobs across the country; 1 of the Prime Minister's 5 priorities.

UKRI, in partnership with NQCC, is investing in projects to create world leading quantum computing testbeds based on various technologies. These testbeds will speed up the development of scalable quantum computers and provide a practical way to test and validate their performance, moving beyond just theoretical approaches.

By running quantum algorithms on different hardware, the projects aim to identify which technology is most effective for specific types of problems. The winning companies will gain direct access to the expertise within the NQCC and its user community. 7 projects will set up testbeds using different quantum computing platforms, including:- trapped-ion, superconducting, photonics, and neutral atoms.

The £15 million Quantum Catalyst Fund aims to fast-track the integration of quantum solutions in the public sector, strategically positioning the UK Government to leverage the diverse advantages of quantum technologies across different policy areas; from healthcare where quantum sensors could be used to look for the signs of dementia, to energy where quantum computers could help manage the electricity grid.

During an initial 3 month phase 1 of the competition, feasibility studies were conducted to explore the application of quantum technologies in addressing Governmental challenges. The 6 most promising concepts selected for phase 2 will now receive funding to develop prototypes and demonstrate their solutions.

The competition is being delivered by Innovate UK, part of UKRI, in conjunction with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It is part of the UK's National Quantum Technologies Programme which has been running since 2014 to put the UK at the forefront of quantum technologies globally.

Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director of the National Quantum Computing Centre, said:- "My congratulations to the lead providers of our 7 awarded quantum testbeds. Over the coming 15 months these prototype quantum computing platforms will be deployed into the newly established NQCC facility providing us with a valuable insight into the maturity, characteristics and capabilities available across a range of hardware architectures. This next phase of the NQCC will be 1 of huge promise establishing a unique state of the art facility with on-premises access to a range of qubit modalities at scale."

Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director, Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI, said:- "We are on the brink of a quantum technology revolution that is poised to transform diverse industries from the financial sector to healthcare, and UKRI is committed to ensuring the UK's place at the forefront of this. We are providing our world leading businesses and institutions the resources and tools needed to build a strong foundation in quantum computing with the potential to scale their activities for long term competitive advantage. This investment will help our researchers and innovators develop the blueprint for quantum computing hardware and software and secure the UK's place in this developing field."

Professor Will Drury, Executive Director, Digital and Technologies at Innovate UK said:- "Quantum technologies have the potential to meet some of the greatest challenges society faces. By unleashing computing power that goes far beyond existing digital technology, we can reach new frontiers in sensing, timing, imaging, and communications. This could be transformative for life in the UK and will create new, well-paid jobs that will boost our future economy."

The National Quantum Strategy, published in March 2023, commits £2.5 billion to developing quantum technologies in the UK over the 10 years, from 2024; more than doubling current public investment, which will aim to generate an additional £1 billion of private investment into the programme.

The strategy sets out a bold and ambitious approach to supporting quantum technologies in the UK across the broad spectrum of:- quantum computing, sensing, timing, imaging and communications. It sets out how the UK will develop its strengths across different hardware platforms, software and components, and reinforce our capabilities throughout the supply chains.

More detail on the announcements:-

Quantum Computing Testbeds competition... UKRI Technology Missions Fund and the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre are investing £30 million to drive forward projects that will deliver quantum computing testbeds, based on diverse hardware architectures by March 2025. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition, delivered by Innovate UK, accelerates the development of scalable quantum computers by enabling detailed characterisation and benchmarking of early-stage machines.

A quantum testbed provides a controlled environment where scientists and engineers can manipulate and study quantum bits (or qubits), which are the basic unit of information in quantum computing. It enables testing and validation of new quantum algorithms, devices, or technologies as a part of the scaling up process for practical use.

This approach seeks to bridge the gap between academic experimentation and proprietary commercial quantum computers. These testbeds will provide a crucial experimental framework, facilitating the refinement of methodologies for testing, validating, and enhancing the performance of quantum computers.

Quantum Catalyst Fund... The £15 million Quantum Catalyst Fund, also delivered by Innovate UK, looks to explore the benefits of using quantum technologies in the Government's work across areas like health, transport and net zero. The competition aims to accelerate the adoption of quantum solutions by the public sector and will ensure the UK Government is well-placed to fully harness the benefits of using these technologies across a range of policy areas.

The 1st round of feasibility studies under the fund, 30 projects explored how quantum technology can provide new capabilities in public services, such as quantum-enabled brain imaging in healthcare to tackle epilepsy, concussion, and dementia, or quantum computing that can solve optimisation problems in energy grids, helping us to reach net zero. The winners of the second phase of the competition will receive funding from the SBRI fund to build physical prototypes for their sponsoring Government agency/department.

The Quantum Catalyst Fund is funded by DSIT and Innovate UK. SBRI offers organisations the opportunity to work directly with the public sector to develop new technologies and processes, helping to meet efficiency targets and improving public services. It supports the research and development of solutions to solve public sector challenges.
 

Liverpool's night time purple reign continues

LIVERPOOL is celebrating securing prestigious Purple Flag status again; taking its reign in to a 14th successive year.

The award is a recognition of the City's commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night time economy.

Purple Flag; similar to the Blue Flag for beaches and Green Flag for Parks; aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and City Centres between the hours of:- 5pm to 5am.

This prestigious award highlights Liverpool's blend of entertainment, dining and culture, all while ensuring the safety and well being of residents and visitors in the evening and night time economy.

Key successes in Liverpool's submission include the incredible achievement of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, the increased funding to support the Street Pastors service, and the fantastic Purple Flag video which captured the spirit of Liverpool beautifully.

Liverpool's retention was also based on a positive report on its overall night time offer including:- bars, restaurants, shops, car parks, theatres, signage and public transport.

Liverpool is joined by 100 Purple Flag destinations across:- Ireland, the UK, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia. This includes world renowned tourist destinations to small market towns.

Purple Flag has represented the gold standard of the management of evening and night time economies for nearly 15 years and is managed by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) which works alongside a partnership of key stakeholder groups backed by Government, Police and businesses.

Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said:- "Retaining Purple Flag status is great news and sends out a strong message that we have a safe and vibrant City Centre, catering for hundreds of thousands of people every week. There is a huge amount of hard work going in every single day from public agencies and private businesses to make sure people who choose to visit Liverpool have the best possible time while they are here. The hosting of Eurovision brilliantly showcased our dynamic offer and we are determined to keep on raising standards and not rest on our laurels. A lot of organisations as well as businesses are working together to achieve this and ensure our night-time economy goes from strength to strength."

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "It's wonderful to hear that Liverpool has retained its Purple Flag for the fourteenth year running. Our City attracts and welcomes visitors from across the world and we already know that it is a brilliant place to visit and spend time. Millions of people every year enjoy a safe night out in our pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants, so it is fantastic to see this being recognised on a national level by a team of independent assessors. It is testament to those who work tirelessly to keep our night time economy safe and inclusive, and my thanks go to Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council who work extensively with our partners to deliver a comprehensive and proactive plan to ensure the City Centre is a place for people of all ages and interests to enjoy. Through our You're Safe Here initiative with LCR Pride, we've also trained more than 1,000 staff working at 250 organisations to recognise and react to situations where somebody may be feeling insecure or vulnerable; yet another example of the shared commitment to ensuring Liverpool continues to be the best place in the UK to come for a night out."

Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, said:- "I'm delighted to see the hard work of every partner in the City Centre pay off with the continuation of this status. There are many different stakeholders that are committed to the safety of our night time economy, and it is as important for businesses and venues to be as safe as possible as it is for those who travel the length of the country to come for a night out in Liverpool. This status does not come by accident, it is the result of this continued commitment and dedication as we work together as a City to focus on how we can always maintain a safe and welcoming night time economy for everyone."