Commercialisation of quantum technologies 4

Key Features

UK businesses can apply for a share of £6 million to work with research organisations or businesses on commercialising quantum technologies.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to £350k

Opens: 17th Jul 2017

Closes: 20th Sep 2017

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of this competition is to encourage the commercialisation of quantum technologies. It will help businesses undertaking commercialisation, research or development projects in this area to develop new markets and technologies.  And, to encourage collaborative feasibility studies that will improve understanding of the technical or market feasibility of a product or service.

The scope of this competition allows for both technical and non-technical projects. This includes projects that focus on understanding the business or market opportunity and challenges.

 

Technical projects

These projects will develop and establish feasibility for devices that exploit one or more of the following phenomena:

  • entanglement
  • superposition

The scope also allows for component technologies. These will be important in the construction of future quantum systems or subsystems. They include but are not limited to:

  • vacuum systems
  • stabilised laser systems
  • integrated systems, including integrated lasers and vacuums
  • algorithms, control and interpretation software
  • single photon light sources and detectors

Non-technical projects

These projects will involve work to understand:

  • future markets
  • applications or business models
  • the route to future commercialisation
  • adoption of quantum technologies

 

This may include projects that involve one or more of the following activities:

  • knowledge exchange, learning and understanding of quantum technologies and their potential applications
  • capture of user, performance or testing specifications (either to the applicant or customer organisation)
  • internal ‘roadmapping’ activities

Up to 20% of the budget for this competition is for projects which include a start-up company. This company must be under 3 years old, contain fewer than 3 employees and have not received funding from Innovate UK in the past.

 

Eligibility

To lead a project you must:

  • be a UK-based business or research and technology organisation
  • be a business of any size
  • carry out your project in the UK
  • work in collaboration with others (businesses, research base and/or RTO)
  • be working on a project to develop the technology or market for devices that exploit quantum technologies or their components

Projects are expected to last between 3 months to 1 year.

Total eligible project costs should be between £40,000 to £500,000

Your project can focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development. This will depend on the challenge:

  • For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are an SME
  • For experimental development projects that are nearer to market, you could receive up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are an SME