Quantum health projects will share £14m in UK funding to advance NHS diagnostics, including portable eye scanners, epilepsy brain imaging and faster cancer blood tests.
The funding comes through Innovate UK’s Quantum Sensing Mission Primer awards, backing 14 projects in healthcare, transport and defence.
Three health technology initiatives will receive significant support.
Siloton is developing a portable quantum eye scanner to replace large optical coherence tomography (OCT) machines currently used in hospitals, receiving £703,858.
OCT is a non-invasive retinal imaging technique. The company says its device will be more affordable for NHS outpatient departments.
Cerca Magnetics, a University of Nottingham spinout, has been awarded £1.5m to design what it describes as the first quantum brain scanner for diagnosing epilepsy.
Its creators say the technology could outperform conventional brain imaging methods.
NPL Management Limited will receive £649,307 to develop ultra-sensitive quantum sensors intended to speed up blood sample testing for cancer and other diseases.
The aim is to enhance the speed and sensitivity of mass spectrometry, a lab method for measuring chemicals in a sample.
Science minister Lord Vallance said: “Quantum technologies are changing the world – from ultra-sensitive sensors to help diagnose diseases through to the potential of a new type of computer that can do things in seconds that would take today’s computers decades to compute.”
“The UK already has considerable strengths and lots of exciting new companies have sprung up in the UK.
“The funding and agreements being announced today aim to support this exciting and important growth area right across the country.”
The announcements were made ahead of the National Quantum Technologies Showcase in London, bringing together researchers, investors and policymakers.
The event marks 11 years since the launch of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.
Quantum technology operates at sub-atomic scales where everyday physics does not fully apply, enabling measurements and calculations with higher precision than traditional devices
. In healthcare, this could mean faster drug discovery and more precise diagnostic tools.
The government has committed £670m for quantum computing as part of its industrial strategy. By 2045, quantum is estimated to contribute £11bn to UK GDP and create over 100,000 jobs.
Beyond healthcare, the package includes quantum navigation systems for the London Underground (Monirail Ltd, £1.3m), quantum timing units for critical infrastructure (Xairos UK Limited, £1.4m), and quantum gravity sensors for finding underground structures without excavation (Delta G Limited, £1.4m).
Additional announcements include the launch of the Quantum Centre for Nuclear Defence and Security at AWE, a £300,000 investment to relaunch the Scotland-California quantum partnership, and a memorandum of understanding between the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
Jonathan Legh-Smith, executive director of UKQuantum, said: “The achievements of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme over the last 10 years have positioned the UK as one of the world’s leading quantum nations.
“Our companies have developed world leading technologies across the whole quantum domain – including sensing, imaging, clocks and computing – with strong engagements across sectors such as transport, finance, telecommunications and defence.”
“The announcements today demonstrate the translation of innovation to commercial reality is already well underway in the UK.”
The government invested £121m in quantum technology this financial year as part of its National Quantum Missions programme, aimed at accelerating commercial deployment across public and private sectors.
