SBRI: Quantum Networks, Enabling Components & Systems

Fund details

Our communications networks are increasing in capacity and complexity as our economy becomes increasingly underpinned by data. Quantum network technologies will transform how we secure, handle and process our information to meet these challenges, build resilient communications, and make quantum computers scalable and usable.

In this competition, you must:

• outline how your proposed solution can have a commercial impact
• evidence the commercial impact by engaging with one or more customers throughout the project
• demonstrate your solution in a representative setting
• deliver a deployable prototype by the end of the project

Your project must use second-generation quantum technologies which are defined as those involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. Innovate UK consider technologies involving single photon generation and detection to be in scope.

This competition is not suitable for feasibility studies.

Innovate UK encourage projects that:

• work with network architects, operators and service providers to introduce quantum technologies to enhance or transform current solutions and services
• enable the UK to become an integral part of the emerging supply chain for quantum network technologies

Contracts will be given to successful applicants.

You must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results.

Innovate UK will not fund projects that:

• are covered by existing commercial agreements to deliver the proposed solutions
• duplicate existing innovation
• do not engage with potential future customers to understand needs
• do not use second-generation quantum technologies
• would directly duplicate other UK government or EU-funded initiatives you have already been funded to deliver

Eligibility

Projects must:

• start on 1 October 2023
• end by 31 March 2025
• last between 12 and 18 months
• carry out their project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

To lead a project, you can:

• be an organisation of any size
• work alone or with others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations (RTOs) or the third sector as subcontractors

Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only. However, if you can justify subcontracting components of the work, you can engage specialists or advisers. This work will still be the responsibility of the main contractor.

A total of up to £10 million, inclusive of VAT, is allocated to this competition.

Research and development 

Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. This lets you incorporate the results of your exploration and design and demonstrate that you can produce in quantity to acceptable quality standards.

R&D does not include:

• commercial development activities such as quantity production
• supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs
• integration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processes

Talk to us today if you would like to apply for this opportunity.