The UK and Germany are continuing to strengthen their long-standing scientific partnership with a significant new investment package to accelerate quantum innovation
Announced at the close of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s State Visit to the UK on 5 December 2025, the measures include joint research funding, support for cutting-edge facilities in Glasgow, and new collaboration on quantum standards. Together, these initiatives mark a significant step toward unlocking the vast commercial and societal potential of quantum technologies.
Quantum technology
Quantum computing, sensing, and navigation are increasingly seen as transformative technologies with far-reaching applications across medicine, industry, and national security.
Analysts estimate that quantum innovation could add £11 billion to the UK economy by 2045, creating over 100,000 highly skilled jobs. From speeding up the discovery of life-saving medicines to improving medical imaging with portable, high-precision scanners, quantum technologies are poised to reshape multiple sectors.
Both the UK and Germany already maintain strong positions in global quantum research, supported by deep R&D expertise, advanced skills, and world-class institutions. The latest announcements further cement their role as leading European partners committed to driving the field forward together.
£6 million for joint quantum R&D
A £6 million joint funding call for quantum research and development will launch in early 2026. Innovate UK and Germany’s VDI will contribute £3 million each to support collaborative projects across both countries.
The initiative is expected to create new partnerships between universities, research institutes, and industry, accelerating the development of commercially viable quantum technologies.
Boost for Fraunhofer’s Glasgow center.
The UK government is also investing £8 million to strengthen the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow. The centre is recognised internationally for its work in applied photonics, a crucial enabler of many quantum technologies. The additional funding will help grow the UK’s quantum industrial base by supporting companies as they translate research breakthroughs into market-ready products.
By enhancing Fraunhofer’s capabilities, the UK aims to stimulate innovation within domestic supply chains and support businesses working on quantum sensing, communications, and advanced imaging solutions.
A new commitment to shared quantum standards
As quantum technologies move closer to widespread deployment, consistent global standards will be essential. To support this, the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and Germany’s Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on quantum standards.
The agreement complements the broader NMI-Q initiative, which brings together national metrology institutes to align the foundational measurements and benchmarks needed for trusted quantum systems.
Extending a broader scientific partnership
The quantum announcements build on a period of rapid expansion in UK-Germany scientific cooperation. Both countries recently worked together during European Space Agency budget negotiations, jointly funding more than €6 billion of ESA programmes. This included significant commitments to new launch technologies and the VIGIL space weather mission.
The partnership also continues to grow in computing and AI. In October, the UK’s National Supercomputing Centre in Edinburgh was selected to host the UK’s AI Factory Antenna in collaboration with the HammerHAI AI Factory in Stuttgart. To reinforce this cooperation, the UK is allocating up to £3.9 million to support participation in EuroHPC calls focused on exascale and AI-ready computing.
A shared strategic vision
These developments show the momentum generated by the UK-Germany Strategic Science and Technology Partnership established earlier in the year. Both nations are also active collaborators within major international research organisations, including CERN and Horizon Europe.
With this new £14 million investment package, the UK and Germany are signalling their determination to lead the next wave of quantum innovation.
