UK Quantum Strategy Targets Sovereignty and Scale for Future Tech Leadership

The UK government is urged to advance its quantum strategy to transform its strong research leadership into commercial and strategic dominance in quantum technology. Despite ranking third globally in quantum research and hosting the world’s second-highest number of quantum startups, the UK faces risks of losing ground to countries like China, the US, and Germany due to lack of sufficient high-risk capital, infrastructure, and early corporate adoption.

Quantum is seen as the next major technology revolution with enormous potential applications spanning computing, sensing, secure communications, and navigation. Its growing market, forecast to add over £200 billion to the UK economy by 2045, requires urgent focus on scaling startups and industrial deployment to avoid technological dependence on foreign powers.

Key challenges identified include insufficient applied research investment, inadequate funding for scaling companies, and shallow supply-chain infrastructure. The paper recommends a cohesive national quantum strategy that includes boosting applied translational research to solve engineering bottlenecks, resurrecting corporate venture capital schemes to mobilize private investment, government-led quantum procurement incentives, and securing resilient supply chains through domestic build-out and strategic international partnerships.

There is also a strong national security imperative: quantum technologies threaten existing encryption standards and require proactive transition to quantum-secure methods to protect critical infrastructure. The UK must integrate quantum with broader tech policies, including AI, to ensure leadership and sovereignty in this transformative technology era.

Source: Tony Blair and William Hague, Institute for Global Change, 2025