How can quantum infrastructure in the UK be improved?

Key findings of the review

The UK is well positioned as a leader in quantum capability and expertise. However, it risks losing its lead if it fails to reinforce and expand on its existing quantum infrastructure.

The Quantum Infrastructure Review, commissioned through the National Quantum Strategy by the UK government’s Department for Science Innovation and Technology, makes six recommendations on how government can support the UK’s emerging quantum sector.

The conclusions of the Review suggest that the UK should at a minimum upgrade and improve access for industry to existing infrastructure as this was a major concern of industry stakeholders.

Additionally, strategic investment in several key technology development stages could provide further economic advantage. Finally, better coordination, strategic direction, progress on enablers, and further investment in advanced manufacturing capabilities, will be key to improve the success of physical infrastructure investments in the UK’s quantum sector.

The UK has been a frontrunner in quantum technology development to date, but other nations are investing heavily in their own quantum national strategies and infrastructure. We face a choice now about whether we want to continue to lead in quantum technology exploitation and commercialisation.

Dr Dame Frances Saunders DBE CB FREng, Chair of the working group that oversaw the Review.

Recommendations at a glance

• Recommendation 1: Upgrade and improve access for industry to existing open-access infrastructure and prioritise investment in at least one new flagship facility to support quantum technology development across design, nanofabrication prototyping, packaging, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration.
• Recommendation 2: Infrastructure where quantum industry is a user must meet industry requirements; for existing infrastructure, upgrade programmes should be focused on meeting industry needs.
• Recommendation 3: Establish a quantum technology coordination function that provides guidance to industry on navigating the UK’s quantum technology landscape, and coordinates and facilitates access for industry to infrastructure.

• Recommendation 4: Incentivise industry to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities needed for quantum and other technologies.
• Recommendation 5: Government to provide clear strategic direction for quantum technologies including through roadmaps developed in partnership between academia and industry.
• Recommendation 6: For successful operation of infrastructure, government needs to consider key enablers such as sufficient provision of skills, appropriate development of standards and adequate regulation to ensure responsible and ethical innovation, including environmental impacts.

Explore the recommendations in full

What can the UK do to grow its potential as a quantum leader?

The UK already has commercial knowledge and a strong research base in key areas of quantum technology. Therefore the recommendations in this review first focus on maintaining existing advantage. The Review then presents the opportunity for the UK to position itself as a global leader in the quantum technology space with the right investment. Without government intervention at this stage, there is a high risk of losing ground to countries making significant investments in quantum.

The Review engaged extensively with quantum industry stakeholders and found that the strongest and most repeated concern was that the UK’s existing open-access infrastructure is not adequate for meeting industry needs. Therefore the recommendations begin by emphasising this concern and then suggest further options for investment which can capitalise on existing capabilities and synergies.

Which materials could the UK invest in to enable quantum technology?

Compound semiconductors

Compound semiconductors currently account for 20% of the global computer chip market and this market is expected to grow due to the increasing number of innovations in telecommunications, electrification and net zero technologies and self-driving vehicles. By investing in the research and development of novel compound semiconductors the the UK could become a leader in this sector.

Silicon photonics

UK universities already have well-established expertise in silicon photonics and even moderate investment in this technology could be advantageous. Silicon photonics is currently experiencing rapid growth internationally with major investments by large companies focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and telecommunications.

Diamond

Diamond as a material for quantum technology has not yet been extensively commercialised and open-access foundries for synthetic diamond for quantum applications have only just started to emerge. This could be a viable route for the UK to generate advantage as there are good existing academic facilities and commercial ventures within the UK which could benefit from further investment.

Superconductors

Superconductors are useful for quantum computing, communication, and sensing thanks to their zero electrical resistance. There is no commercial capability in the UK at present but investing in an open-access platform could help startups and SMEs to overcome the challenges of accessing this technology.

Next steps for UK quantum infrastructure

The recommendations made in this Review lay out multiple possible futures for the UK's quantum industry. There is currently a window of opportunity for the UK to take advantage, but only if it acts soon. 

This Review calls for a minimum baseline investment in upgrading quantum infrastructure and in key enabling systems to facilitate growth in the sector. However, if the UK wishes to be truly proactive it can invest in further critical capabilities and position itself at the forefront of particular technologies.

Going forward the UK should be clear about its level of ambition. The options presented in this Review should have significant impacts in terms of accelerating the UK’s quantum sector by stimulating and speeding up R&D translation and scale-up, as well as attracting further investment and talent. Action is needed now to capitalise on the UK's early advantage. The most significant risk would be the opportunity cost of inaction which may lead key players in the UK’s quantum ecosystem to relocate outside the UK.

Download the full review

Contact us

For further information about this project or if you have questions, please contact Dr Carolina Feijao. 

Acknowledgements

This Review was overseen by a Royal Academy of Engineering Working Group and supported by an Industry Advisory Group who provided insight and feedback. Additional information about the Working Group and Industry Advisory Groups can be found at the end of the full report.