Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer

Programme:Innovate UK

Awards:Up to £1.5m

Geographical Scope:national

Beneficiaries:public

Key Features:Accelerate your quantum innovation with up to £1.5 million in funding from Innovate UK to develop cutting-edge quantum sensors and PNT solutions.

Key Information

Total Funding Available: £14 million (inclusive of VAT)
Contract Value per Project: £500,000 to £1.5 million
Project Duration: Up to 7 months
Application Deadline: 11:00 AM BST, 2 July 2025
Project Start Date: 1 September 2025
Eligibility: Open to organisations of any size, including international entities
Technology Focus: Second-generation quantum technologies
Funding Type: 100% funded R&D contracts (not subject to subsidy control)

Funding Details

Contract Value: Projects can receive between £500,000 and £1.5 million, inclusive of VAT.
Project Duration: Each project should last up to 7 months, starting on 1 September 2025 and ending by 31 March 2026.
Number of Projects Funded: Innovate UK expects to fund between 10 and 15 projects.
Funding Structure: This is a procurement of R&D services at fair market value, not subject to subsidy control criteria. No match funding is required.
Phase 2 Opportunity: Successful Phase 1 projects may be invited to apply for a subsequent Phase 2 competition, subject to performance and budget availability.

Eligibility Criteria

To lead a project, applicants must:

Be an organisation of any size, including those based in the EU, EEA, or internationally.
Work alone or with subcontracted skills and expertise from businesses, research organisations, research and technology organisations, or the third sector.
Ensure that the majority of the project work and key deliverables are completed by the applicant and carried out in the UK.

Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.

Application Process

Opening Date: 19 May 2025
Closing Date: 11:00 AM BST, 2 July 2025
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted through the Innovate UK application portal.
Briefing Event: An in-person briefing and networking event will be held in London on 4 June 2025, from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This event will provide detailed information about the competition and offer networking opportunities.

Competition Overview

Innovate UK has launched the “Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer” competition, offering up to £14 million in funding to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors (QS) and quantum position, navigation, and timing (QPNT) products and services. This initiative supports the UK’s National Quantum Strategy Missions 3, 4, and 5, focusing on healthcare, navigation systems, and critical infrastructure in sectors like transport, telecoms, energy, and defence.

Scope and Objectives

The competition aims to accelerate the development and adoption of QS and QPNT products and services that are essential for delivering the National Quantum Strategy Missions. Projects should focus on:

Developing innovative products or services using second-generation quantum technologies.
Demonstrating the current status of the technology and outlining future development plans.
Identifying technical, commercial, and regulatory barriers to adoption.
Providing a credible and practical route to market, including a plan to commercialise results.

Deliverables for Phase 1 include a Product Maturity Plan and a Product Performance Report.

Technology Focus

Projects must utilise second-generation quantum technologies, defined as those involving the generation and coherent control of quantum states, resulting in phenomena such as superposition or entanglement. Technologies involving single photon generation and detection are also in scope. Both software and hardware are eligible, provided that software is aligned with a specific hardware device or platform.

Benefits to Applicants

Full Funding: Receive 100% funding for R&D services without the need for match funding.
Market Access: Opportunity to work directly with the public sector and contribute to national strategic missions.
Commercialisation Support: Develop a credible route to market with support from Innovate UK.
Networking Opportunities: Engage with industry leaders, researchers, and stakeholders at the briefing event.

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Our Service Offering in Grants

Our services include:

Grant scouting and strategy: identifying the right UK and EU funding opportunities for your project pipeline
Bid writing: crafting compelling, compliant applications with strong technical and commercial narratives
Grant management: supporting delivery, reporting, and compliance throughout the project lifecycle
Innovation loans: helping secure and manage Innovate UK loans for late-stage development and market readiness
International support: leveraging our global network to access cross-border innovation funding opportunities

Book An Introductory Meeting

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