British companies building quantum sensors are being backed with a share of £50 million, the government said on 13 October 2026 [1]. The winning projects include a system to find faults on railway lines, a handheld eye scanner and a compact quantum radio system.
The government also announced £20 million for quantum communication networks and an £8 million expansion of a quantum apprenticeship scheme [1].
What is quantum sensing?
Quantum technologies use the behaviour of very small particles, such as atoms, to do things that are hard or impossible with today’s technology. Quantum sensors use this to make extremely precise measurements, the government’s release explains [1]. That can help in places where normal tools struggle, for example when GPS signals cannot reach.
Who is getting the money
The £50 million is being handed out through UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Sensing and Positioning, Navigation and Timing competition, according to the release. The government said the funding will help companies build on early testing and turn their ideas into products [1]. It did not say how much each firm will get.
The government named six projects [1]:
- MoniRail (West Midlands): a quantum system to pinpoint faults in railway tracks and signalling where GPS cannot reach, so staff can fix problems sooner.
- Siloton (Bristol): a handheld quantum eye scanner, designed to bring advanced eye tests outside specialist hospitals and help cut NHS waiting lists.
- ColdQuanta UK (Oxfordshire): a compact, mobile quantum radio system that can locate signals accurately, for military use, protecting sites such as airports, and helping emergency teams find distress signals.
- QLM Technology (Wales): a camera to see and measure greenhouse gases in energy, water and waste infrastructure.
- Quantum Fabrix (Oxford): a next-generation clock for satellites, used in navigation, defence and communications.
- Cerca Magnetics (Nottingham): a wearable brain scanner, in particular for scanning before epilepsy surgery.
Science Minister Chris McDonald said: “Quantum has long been an exciting technology, but now real world applications are within our grasp” [1].
£20 million for quantum networks, £8 million for apprentices
UKRI is also putting £20 million into UK businesses working on quantum communication networks, through its Enabling Commercial Quantum Networking competition, the government said. One example it gave is Sheffield-based Aegiq, which makes parts such as lasers and photonic chips [1].
Separately, an £8 million expansion of UKRI’s QuEST Apprentices Programme aims to train engineering and quantum technicians. By 2030 the scheme aims to equip 150 apprentices, according to the release [1].
The government said the funding is part of its goal to make the UK a world leader in quantum sensing by 2030, “backed by up to £2 billion investment earlier this year” [1]. The release does not say whether the new sums come out of that £2 billion.
A separate award for Infleqtion
On the same day, the quantum company Infleqtion said it had been awarded £9 million by Innovate UK, which is part of UKRI [2]. In its press release, published by The Quantum Insider, Infleqtion said the money is for a device called Quantum Spectrum-DF, which uses Rydberg atoms to detect and locate radio signals without large antennas. It is the second phase of a project called QuDiFi, and Infleqtion is working with the defence company Leonardo. Infleqtion said the award comes from the Quantum Missions Primer programme, which is a different scheme from the competition behind the £50 million.
What this means
- Quantum sensing is moving towards real products. The government is paying firms to turn lab tests into devices for railways, hospitals and defence.
- We don’t know who gets what. The government named the winners but not how the £50 million is divided.
- Skills and supply chains are part of the plan. The networking and apprentice money is aimed at keeping parts and trained workers in the UK.
Sources
- GOV.UK (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, UK Research and Innovation and Chris McDonald MP), “Quantum firms backed to keep railways running and cut waiting lists as UK harnesses potential of future tech”, 13 October 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/quantum-firms-backed-to-keep-railways-running-and-cut-waiting-lists-as-uk-harnesses-potential-of-future-tech
- The Quantum Insider (Infleqtion press release), “Infleqtion Receives £9 Million to Develop Quantum RF Sensing System”, 13 October 2026. https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/10/13/infleqtion-9-million-quantum-rf-sensing-system/
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