The UK risks squandering its potential to become a leader in the field of quantum computing without more support from the government to build sovereign capabilities in the technology, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has heard.

The committee exists to examine the output and policies of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The committee is amid an inquiry to pinpoint technological areas it claims DSIT should be championing through its work to establish itself as the new “digital centre for government”.

As part of this work, a committee hearing on 14 October turned its attention to what needs to happen to ensure the UK does not squander its potential to become a leader in quantum computing.

Introducing the session, committee member and Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley described quantum computing as being an “emerging and transformational technology” that the UK has the “very unusual position” of being “potentially world leaders” in.

“This is an opportunity to not make the same mistakes we have made as a country with AI [artificial intelligence] and lose control to other nationalities, but to enforce the UK’s lead,” said Wrigley.

This line of conversation was then expanded on during the evidence session by an oral submission from Sebastian Weidt, the CEO and co-founder of Haywards Heath-based company Universal Quantum.

The company is focused on building what Weidt termed modular and utility-scale quantum computers that can be used to accelerate drug discovery by pharmaceutical firms, optimise supply chains and help governments strengthen national security.

“Our ambition, to be very clear, is not to build a billion-pound company, [but] with the right support, we have the opportunity to build a billion-pound company here in the UK,” said Weidt. “The societal impact could be profound.”

And that is entirely possible to achieve in the UK, he continued, but not without some urgent interventions.

“We have the science, the talent and entrepreneurial drive, but make no mistake – this is a global race,” he said. “The UK has an unfair advantage with homegrown talent, but risks losing it if decisive actions are not taking effect.”

Universal Quantum started as an organisation spun out of a university and has now become a “globally recognised leader in modular quantum architectures”, said Weidt.

“We have entities in Germany, the US, Denmark, and [we are in the] process of expanding our efforts within the EU and in Asia,” he continued.

“These nations have become major supporters of Universal Quantum, demonstrated, for example, through contracts worth in excess of €70m from Germany. And yet here in the UK … [in terms of government support] the contrast is stark.”

Weidt continued: “The UK is rich in scientific talent. Our universities, our research base … all give the UK a really strong foundation in quantum, but there are challenges we must address if we are to stop key quantum computing capabilities being lost to foreign players.”

Expanding on this point, he said the UK needs to “go further” than building research and development centres for quantum that other nations can use to “achieve quantum superiority”.

What the UK needs to do, according to Weidt, is build its own “true sovereign quantum capability” through the “creation and procurement of virtual and quantum computers made in Britain”.

But there are a number of challenges and barriers that need to be overcome to make that possible, including speeding up the time it takes players in the field of quantum computing to access investment, with Weidt calling out entities such as the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund as being “too slow and risk-averse” on this front.

“In a field where other nations are moving with urgency, speed of execution is as important as the scale of the commitment,” he said. “If these institutions would act as fast-moving lead investors, it would unlock significant follow-on capital already in the markets.”

From an infrastructure perspective, Weidt said it is important to build quantum facilities in the UK, but also to manufacture quantum computers for global export too.

“Let’s keep the hardware development, the tools, the knowledge and the talent on our shores, and export the discoveries that follow,” he said.

On a related point, he said it is worth noting that Germany has contracted Universal Quantum to build machines for it, but the UK has not, and a lack of senior government support for the quantum computing sector risks putting the industry on the back foot.

“When we engage with foreign governments on large deals, they often ask whether we have senior-level government support,” he said. “This has not always been easy to demonstrate. Greater coordination between commercial engagement and financial support at the state level would significantly enhance our ability to export Great British innovations.”

Weidt added: “None of these are theoretical asks … they are practical steps that would help us ensure the UK retains a sovereign capability in quantum computing. They will show investors and international partners [we are] serious about leading in this field.”  

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