Quantum Missions pilot: Quantum Computing and Quantum Networks
An Innovate UK competition that funded industry projects in quantum computing and quantum networks towards the UK quantum missions.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
Innovate UK opened the Quantum Missions pilot competition in November 2024. Projects had to start from 1 April 2025 and end by 31 March 2026. The aim was to move quantum computing and quantum networking technologies towards commercial use, in line with the mission goals for 2035.
In March 2025 Innovate UK named 10 winners sharing over £12 million. They included projects led by Vector Photonics, Alter Technology TÜV Nord UK, Quantum Motion, Nu Quantum, Lumino Technologies, Aegiq, Toshiba Europe, Redwave Labs, Oxford Ionics and SEEQC UK. In May 2025 a further £10 million funded five more projects, led by Rigetti UK (with Riverlane and the NQCC), Oxford Quantum Circuits (with Riverlane), TreQ, ColdQuanta UK (Infleqtion) and Duality Quantum Photonics (with BT and the University of Bristol, among others).
Who leads it
Lead organisation
Innovate UK
Funder · Swindon
UKRI's business funder for quantum, behind the Commercialising Quantum Technologies Challenge, the Quantum Missions pilot and ProQure.
Partners (17)
Vector Photonics
Start-up · Glasgow
Quantum Motion
Company · London
Nu Quantum
Company · Cambridge
Lumino Technologies
Start-up · London
Aegiq
Company · Sheffield
Toshiba Europe
Company · Cambridge
RedWave Labs
Company · Didcot
Oxford Ionics
Company · Oxford
Rigetti UK
Company · London
Riverlane
Company · Cambridge
NQCC
Research organisation · Harwell
Oxford Quantum Circuits
Company · Reading
TreQ
Start-up · Oxford
Infleqtion UK (ColdQuanta UK Ltd)
Company · Oxford
Duality Quantum Photonics
Company · Bristol
BT Group
Company · London
University of Bristol
University · Bristol
Funders
-
Innovate UK
Funder · Swindon
UK Research and Innovation
Funder · Swindon
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles about Quantum Missions pilot, then ones naming its lead or partners.
Bristol Wins Funding for Quantum Internet Tech, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The University of Bristol is leading two projects funded by Innovate UK’s £12 million Quantum Missions pilot competition to advance quantum networking technologies, aiming to create scalable and cost-effective photonic integrated circuits for secure communication and develop qudit-based systems for
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Can Riverlane’s Deltaflow unlock useful quantum computing?, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Is Riverlane’s Deltaflow the key to useful quantum computing?
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Nu Quantum aims to link quantum computers into one system, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Nu Quantum proposes a new scaling path for quantum computers, mirroring how classical and AI systems connect processors.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
A recap of the Quantum Software Lab’s Quantum Fringe in Edinburgh, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh has become a globally recognized hub for creating software solutions, and with its strategic partnership with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), now has more than 70 researchers. In three years, the QSL is poised to lead a
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- Quantum Missions pilot competition winners announced (UKRI, 10 March 2025) (ukri.org)
- Quantum Missions pilot competition: further winners announced (UKRI, 13 May 2025) (ukri.org)
- Funding competition: Quantum Missions pilot (Innovation Funding Service) (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)
- UK Funds Quantum Computing & Networking Projects (Quantum Zeitgeist) (quantumzeitgeist.com)
- Rigetti: £3.5M for Quantum Error Correction (Quantum Zeitgeist) (quantumzeitgeist.com)
- £1.65M for TreQ-Led Open Architecture Quantum Testbed (Quantum Zeitgeist) (quantumzeitgeist.com)
- TreQ Builds Multi-Vendor Quantum System in Three Months for Pilot (Quantum Zeitgeist) (quantumzeitgeist.com)
Related projects
- Active Hub · 2024 to 2029
Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations
QCi3
The national research hub for quantum computing, led by the University of Oxford. It works on scalable and networked quantum computers.
Led by University of Oxford
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Computing, Networks, Software and algorithms
- Active Programme · 2014 onwards
UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
NQTP
The UK's national programme for quantum technologies, set up in 2014 as a partnership between government, academia and industry.
Led by UK Research and Innovation
Themes: Computing, Sensing, Imaging, Timing and navigation, Communications, Networks, Skills and training
- Completed Consortium · 2022 to 2025
The Quantum Data Centre of the Future
An ORCA-led consortium that designed and demonstrated how a quantum computer could sit inside a data centre alongside classical systems.
Led by ORCA Computing
Themes: Computing, Communications, Networks