National Institute for Quantum Integration (NiQi) - Strategic Development

The National Institute for Quantum Integration (NiQi) is ambitious project to support the creation of a strong UK hardware supply chain in the field of Quantum Technologies. Quantum technologies will revolutionise every market sector, displacing current technologies and creating completely new markets. Being first to market with innovative services, technologies and products is critical to maintaining global research leadership and to maximising economic and societal benefits. The field is fast-moving across all Technology Readiness Levels, from fundamental research to the first commercial deployments of quantum computers. Global developments are seeing national competitor expertise steadily amalgamating, coalescing, and emerging into centres of excellence. Against this international competition, only a coordinated UK response will enable the country to establish global leadership in commercial products. NiQi builds on the current NQTP and addresses the Government's 2021 Innovation Strategy which highlights quantum as one of seven technology families of UK strength and opportunity.

NiQi is a cross-UK funding proposal to accelerate the miniaturisation and cost reduction of quantum hardware, crucial for quantum technologies to penetrate into volume applications and to enable the next generation of quantum research. By bridging lower to higher TRLs, NiQi will be a key resource in enabling the UK to realise economic benefit from its investments to date in world leading academic nanofabrication facilities and the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

There is broad agreement across the government, science, and industrial communities that NiQi will be a key element in enabling the UK to both maintain a research lead and derive major economic benefit from quantum technologies.

This proposal will allow work to be undertaken to support the development of the NiQi project and quantify its economic, social and industrial benefit.