UK and Germany Unite to Expand Quantum Tech Breakthroughs with Major Funding

The two nations announced new investments, partnerships, and standards to expand international quantum innovation.

In a major new science initiative, the United Kingdom and Germany will team up in order to unlock the potential of quantum technology. With £6 million ($8.0 million) in joint funding for quantum R&D, £8 million ($10.7 million) in investment in Fraunhofer UK's used photonics center in Glasgow and a new agreement on quantum research standards, a new set of announcements aims to further strengthen the two countries’ close ties. The announcement was made by the two countries on the fifth of December.

According to the UK government, quantum technology might add over 100,000 jobs and £11 billion ($14.7 b) to the country's GDP by 2045. Cybersecurity, drug development, imaging for healthcare and many more areas could be transformed by quantum technology. It states that worldwide partnership is thought to be crucial for achieving these benefits.

All of this increases and strengthens the UK-Germany partnership in science and technology by building on recent developments. About 6 billion euros ($7.0 b) of the European Space Agency's (ESA) overall budget of over 22 billion euros ($25.7 billion) was jointly funded by the UK and Germany just last week. This includes a 192 million euro ($223.9 million) shared dedication to the VIGIL severe space weather mission, 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in shared funding for launch programs and additional UK-Germany investments in growth and security-promoting initiatives.

A Memorandum of Understanding between Germany's Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will also be signed as part of the partnership. This will support the NMI-Q initiative, a worldwide project to create common quantum standards.

Cybersecurity, drug development, medical imaging and many more industries will be transformed by quantum technology. To gain these rewards international partnership is crucial. Germany is a perfect partner for the UK in these efforts because of its outstanding institutions, extensive R&D expertise and top skills.