Commercialisation of quantum technologies

Key Features

Apply for a share of £19.5 million in funding to develop quantum technology prototypes or establish technical or market feasibility.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to £1.4m

Opens: 18th Jul 2016

Closes: 5th Oct 2016

! This scheme is now closed

The aim of this competition is to encourage collaborative R&D projects and feasibility studies that will either:

  • develop prototype devices and demonstrators of quantum technologies or their component technologies
  • improve the understanding of the technical, business or market challenges of taking a new device or service to market

The devices may be:

  • clocks
  • sensors
  • imaging
  • communications
  • computing
  • other devices that use quantum effects of superposition or entanglement.

The scope of this competition allows for both technical and non-technical projects. Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will accept projects that contain both technical and non-technical work packages. This includes projects that focus on understanding the business or market opportunity and challenges.

Proposals must be collaborative and a business must lead the project.

This is a single-stage competition:

To be eligible to lead a project you must:

  • be a UK based business
  • be a business of any size
  • carry out your project in the U
  • work in collaboration with others (businesses, research base or third sector)

Feasibility studies

Up to £6 million available to fund feasibility studies in this competition.

  • Projects are expected  to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £400,000
  • Projects should last between 6 months and 1 year

Your project must focus on technical feasibility. You could get:

  • up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
  • up to 50% if you are a large business

Academic partner costs can be no more than 50% of the total project costs.

Collaborative research and development (R&D)

Up to £13.5 million to fund collaborative R&D projects in this competition.

  • Projects are expected to range in size from total costs of £500,000 to £2 million.
  • Projects should last up to 2 years.
  • Projects must be completed by 31 March 2019.

Must focus on industrial research. You could get:

  • up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
  • up to 50% if you are a large business

Academic partner costs can be no more than 50% of the total project costs.