Summary:
1. The UK and Germany are collaborating to advance quantum supercomputing technology, aiming to bridge the gap between research and commercial application.
2. Joint commitments include specific funding for product development and shared operating standards to accelerate the adoption of quantum technology.
3. The partnership is expected to contribute £11 billion to the UK GDP by 2045, supporting over 100,000 jobs.
Article:
The United Kingdom and Germany have joined forces to propel the advancement of quantum supercomputing technology, with a strong focus on speeding up the transition from research to practical application. This collaboration, announced during the German president’s state visit, is strategically designed to address the existing gap between R&D efforts and the commercialization of quantum computing, sensing, and timing solutions. The key objectives of this partnership include dedicated funding to expedite product development processes and the establishment of unified operating standards to facilitate seamless integration of quantum technologies across various industries.
Quantum technology, although currently positioned on the horizon of most technology roadmaps, holds immense potential for economic growth. Economic models project a substantial contribution of £11 billion to the UK’s GDP by the year 2045, with the creation of over 100,000 new jobs. To kickstart this transformative journey, a £6 million joint R&D funding initiative is set to launch in early 2026, with contributions from Innovate UK and VDI amounting to £3 million each. This funding injection aims to empower businesses to expedite the development and commercialization of innovative quantum products, steering away from purely academic pursuits.
Despite the promising prospects, supply chain maturity remains a significant hurdle in the path towards realizing the full potential of quantum technology. To address this challenge, an £8 million investment in the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow is earmarked to bolster the development of applied photonics, a critical component for the successful commercialization of quantum sensing solutions.
Regulatory fragmentation often poses obstacles to the widespread adoption of emerging technologies. In a bid to harmonize measurement standards and facilitate a smoother transition towards commercialization, a new Memorandum of Understanding has been established between the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Germany’s Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). This agreement complements the NMI-Q initiative, a global endeavor aimed at fostering the development of shared norms in the quantum technology landscape.
In the realm of high-performance computing (HPC), the UK’s National Supercomputing Centre at the University of Edinburgh has been selected by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking to host the UK’s AI Factory Antenna, in collaboration with the HammerHAI AI Factory in Stuttgart. To further bolster HPC integration efforts in preparation for the commercialization of quantum supercomputing technology, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) has allocated up to £3.9 million to match fund UK participation in three open EuroHPC calls, supporting the development of exascale and AI-ready software solutions.
Beyond the realms of quantum computing, the collaborative spirit between the UK and Germany extends to the aerospace sector, with a commitment of over €6 billion in joint funding to the European Space Agency. This includes substantial investments in launch programs and support for Rocket Factory Augsburg, slated to launch from Scotland in 2026. These strategic investments underscore the commitment of both nations to advancing cutting-edge technologies and fostering high-skilled manufacturing capabilities in key sectors.
As German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concluded his visit at Siemens Healthineers in Oxford, highlighting the significance of existing bilateral science ties in supporting high-skilled manufacturing and improved health outcomes, it is evident that the integrated approach between the UK and Germany towards supercomputing and quantum infrastructure holds immense promise for enterprises across Europe. By laying a robust foundation for scaling high-performance workloads and unlocking new frontiers in technology, this collaborative effort is poised to reshape the technological landscape and drive innovation to new heights.
