Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer Competition

UK organisations can apply for a share of £14 million to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors and quantum position, navigation, and timing products and services.

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK (IUK) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This is a Contracts for Innovation, formerly known as SBRI, competition funded by IUK.

The competition aims to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors (QS) and quantum position, navigation, and timing (QPNT) products and services. The competition supports the delivery of Missions 3, 4, and 5 of the National Quantum Strategy, which focus on the application of quantum technologies in areas such as healthcare, navigation, and critical national infrastructure across the transport, telecoms, energy, and defence sectors.

This is phase 1 of a potential two-phase competition. Projects in phase 1 must deliver a Product Maturity Plan outlining future development activities, investment requirements, and alignment with market needs. In addition, a Product Performance Report is required, demonstrating confidence in the product’s ability to meet technical requirements through testing, trials, modelling, or demonstration.

Projects must either use second generation quantum technologies or include plans for their incorporation. These technologies involve the coherent control of quantum states, such as superposition or entanglement, and include single photon generation and detection.

Project focus areas may include quantum sensors (QS), quantum position, navigation, and timing (QPNT), or both.