Government Commits £15 Million to Train Quantum Engineers as Part of National Strategy for Quantum Technologies

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is part of the National Quantum Technologies Programme, which has just launched the National strategy for quantum technologies.

The strategy was developed by the Quantum Technologies Strategic Advisory Board, which oversees the newly established £270 million UK National Quantum Technology Programme, and is designed to guide new quantum work and investments over the next 20 years to deliver a profitable, growing and sustainable quantum industry in the UK.

In implementing this strategy the government has now committed up to £15 million to train the next generation of quantum engineers. The funding, via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will be used to create a number of quantum technologies 'skills hubs' across the UK, which will work in partnership with industry to deliver training and career development programmes for PhD students.

At NPL, the Quantum Metrology Institute is carrying out research into quantum atomic clock technology that will lead to the most accurate time-keepers in the world, providing enormous benefit for the countless industries which rely on timing, including high-frequency financial trading, future telecoms networks and navigation. Other Quantum communication technologies are in development to transform the security of data and transactions across multiple sectors and users, ranging from government and industry to commerce and consumers.

Universities, Science and Cities Minister, Greg Clark, said: "Quantum skills will allow us to bring game-changing advantages to future timing, sensing and navigation capabilities, in a sector that could be worth more than £1 billion to the UK economy. That is why we are investing up to £15 million to train specialists with the right entrepreneurial and business skills to ensure we have the talent to keep us ahead of growing international competition."

David Delpy, Chair of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board, added: "This investment into Quantum Technologies represents the biggest single investment in a disruptive technology of the modern era. The UK has long been recognised as a world leader in quantum research, and we now have a real chance to build a solid and successful industrial base around that excellence in fundamental science and engineering. A concerted effort will allow for the creation of an industry that will deliver clear benefits back to the UK."

The National Quantum Technologies Programme, a cross-government programme with activity supported across the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Innovate UK, NPL, Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

Source: http://www.npl.co.uk/