Chris McDonald
Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Investment
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Photo: Laurie Noble, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Active Mission
Quantum Mission 2: Quantum networks
A government goal that by 2035 the UK will have deployed the world's most advanced quantum network at scale.
All five missions, with their official goals, related hubs and projects, are on one page: UK Quantum Mission 2 on the missions page.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
Mission 2 is one of the five quantum missions published with the National Quantum Strategy in 2023. In the government's words, by 2035 the UK will have deployed "the world's most advanced quantum network at scale", pioneering the future quantum internet.
The March 2026 quantum package included £125 million of dedicated funding for quantum networking. Innovate UK's Quantum Missions pilot competition funded early network projects towards this goal in 2025.
Who leads it
Lead organisation
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Government · London
The government department behind the National Quantum Strategy, its five missions and the £2bn quantum package of March 2026, including ProQure.
Funders
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Government · London
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles naming the lead organisation or partners. They may not be about this project.
Sir Peter Knight, The Physicist Who Helped Build Britain’s Quantum Programme, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The theorist who taught British quantum physics to cost itself honestly, and who now chairs the board advising on a national quantum strategy worth billions.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
The UK Quantum Programme Risks Getting Lost In The Noise Of The DSIT Reshuffle, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
DSIT was abolished on 21 July and the statement announcing it never mentions quantum. The funded delivery bodies are insulated, but the Office for Quantum and its line to the prime minister are not, and that is how a national programme decoheres.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Will The UK’s New Prime Minister Sink The UK’s Quantum Industry?, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The incoming prime minister has reportedly asked officials to draw up plans to abolish DSIT. Here is how that decision could play out for the UK quantum sector, from quiet climbdown to compound failure.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
£10M Network Launched to Coordinate UK Quantum Technology Standards, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
A £10m network launch will coordinate UK quantum technology standards, boosting British trade & leadership.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- National Quantum Strategy Missions (GOV.UK) (gov.uk)
- UK Government publishes the National Quantum Strategy (UKRI NQTP) (uknqt.ukri.org)
- UK's 'Quantum leap' ... up to £2 billion (GOV.UK, 17 March 2026) (gov.uk)
- UK Investment In Quantum With £2 billion From UK Government (Quantum Zeitgeist) (quantumzeitgeist.com)
Related projects
- Active Collaboration · 2026 onwards
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A UK CubeSat mission to test quantum key distribution between a satellite and a ground station in Edinburgh.
Led by Heriot-Watt University
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- Active Hub · 2024 to 2029
Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Research Hub
IQN
A national research hub building quantum networks, from local links to satellite connections. Heriot-Watt University leads it.
Led by Heriot-Watt University
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Networks, Communications
- Active Collaboration · 2022 onwards
London Quantum-Secured Metro Network
A commercial trial of a quantum-secured fibre network in London, run by BT with quantum key distribution equipment from Toshiba.
Led by BT Group
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