By https://www.theguardian.com/profile/graemewearden
Publication Date: 2026-03-17 07:41:00
Important events
£2.5 billion increase for AI and quantum technology
Here’s a breakdown of the UK’s £2.5 billion artificial intelligence and quantum computing funding package:
Wayve is set to launch a £500m government AI fund in April to give UK companies access to funding, computing power and other support
£2 billion to improve the UK’s quantum capabilities, including a procurement program worth up to £1 billion to procure commercial-scale quantum computers.
A further £13.8 million will go to the UK’s five national quantum research centres
A further £12 million for a dedicated commercialization center of excellence to help quantum researchers turn their work into “real-world impact”.
Yesterday, Technology Minister Liz Kendall said the government hoped to retain home-grown quantum startups, engineers and researchers rather than lose them to rival countries.
