UK and Germany Deepen Tech Ties with £14 Million Boost to Unlock Quantum Potential
By LiFi Tech News Team
The United Kingdom and Germany have solidified their status as strategic technology partners this week, announcing a significant deepening of ties aimed at unlocking the vast potential of quantum technology.
Marking the final day of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s State Visit to the UK, the two nations unveiled a suite of joint science and tech initiatives headlined by a £14 million investment package. This funding is set to accelerate the development of powerful quantum computers, advanced sensors, and next-generation navigation systems.
A Quantum Leap for the Economy
Quantum technology is widely regarded as a sector with massive commercial viability. Projections suggest that by 2045, the sector could contribute £11 billion to the UK GDP and support over 100,000 jobs.
The implications for industry are profound. Quantum computers promise to revolutionize drug discovery by processing data in a fraction of the time currently required. Meanwhile, quantum sensors could lead to the development of affordable, portable, and highly accurate medical scanners, moving beyond the limitations of current MRI technology.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance commented on the partnership:
"Quantum technology will revolutionise fields such as cybersecurity, drug discovery, medical imaging, and much more. International collaboration is crucial to unlocking these benefits. With its deep R&D expertise... Germany is a natural partner to the UK in these efforts."
Spotlight on Photonics: The Fraunhofer Investment
Of particular interest to the photonics and light communication community is a substantial portion of this funding directed toward Glasgow.
£8 million has been allocated to back the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow. This investment is designed to support world-leading R&D and accelerate growth by helping UK businesses bring new quantum products to market. Given that photonics is the backbone of LiFi and optical communications, this funding reinforces the UK's position as a hub for light-based technologies.
Breakdown of the Announcements
The collaboration covers three main pillars of investment and standardization:
Joint R&D Funding: A £6 million joint quantum R&D funding call will launch in early 2026. This includes a £3 million contribution each from Innovate UK and VDI Germany.
Fraunhofer Support: As mentioned, £8 million will support the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics to drive commercialization in quantum products.
Standardizing the Future: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Germany’s Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). This complements the global NMI-Q initiative to develop shared quantum standards—a critical step for interoperability in future tech ecosystems.
Broader Horizons: Space and AI
While Quantum took center stage, the announcements build on a broader foundation of UK-Germany collaboration.
Recent weeks have seen the two nations jointly fund over €6 billion of activity within the European Space Agency, including the VIGIL space weather mission. Furthermore, to strengthen AI capabilities, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is allocating up to £3.9 million to match fund UK participation in EuroHPC calls, fostering collaboration with European computing centers.
This strategic partnership, solidified earlier this year with the Kensington Treaty, ensures that the UK and Germany remain at the forefront of the global science and technology landscape, driving innovation from the sub-atomic quantum realm to the edges of space.
