22 Nov 2023

Announcement of Quantum Missions in the Autumn Statement pushes the UK towards real-world deployment of quantum technologies

The Autumn Statement has announced the long-awaited Quantum Missions that consist of five ambitious long-term outcomes that will galvanise the quantum community to accelerate the development and application of these technologies.

Pillar 4 of the UK Innovation Strategy recognises the role government can play in driving growth and supporting priority areas of the innovation system through a missions approach. Mission-oriented innovation – which comes in various forms – sets out to harness innovation through tackling major challenges faced by the UK and the world, catalysing growth and capability in priority technologies.

Following this, the quantum missions start with the technology and focus on achieving specific, ambitious outcomes that will have wide-ranging spillover benefits. The five missions are:

By 2035, there will be accessible, UK-based quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations and supporting applications that provide benefits well in excess of classical supercomputers across key sectors of the economy.
By 2035, the UK will have deployed the world’s most advanced quantum network at scale, pioneering the future quantum internet.
By 2030, every NHS Trust will benefit from quantum sensing-enabled solutions, helping those with chronic illness live healthier, longer lives through early diagnosis and treatment.
By 2030, quantum navigation systems, including clocks, will be deployed on aircraft, providing next-generation accuracy for resilience that is independent of satellite signals.
By 2030, mobile, networked quantum sensors will have unlocked new situational awareness capabilities, exploited across critical infrastructure in the transport, telecoms, energy, and defence sectors

This is a crucial milestone in the delivery of the National Quantum Strategy and techUK welcome the announcement of these missions. techUK has previously called for the development of missions though our Quantum Commercialisation Programme, including in our response to the Science and Technology Committee Call for Evidence on Quantum Technologies. This document is available for members and if you would like to see our response please reach out directly.

We also specifically welcome the integration of classical and quantum compute on the first mission, which was a key pillar of techUK's Quantum Report

techUK will continue to work with the Office for Quantum on the delivery of these missions to help define the mission programmes. This will include core activities and milestones that are necessary to unlock investment, advance the science, develop and demonstrate these technologies in the real world, and grow a thriving quantum industry in the UK to meet each outcome.

Ella Shuter

Junior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies, techUK

Ella joined techUK in July 2025 as Junior Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies.

In her role, Ella leads the design and delivery of techUK's focus areas, which identify emerging technologies of interest to members and Government. These initiatives seek to showcase industry best practice, champion key UK sectors, and address the challenges and opportunities shaping the development, application, and commercialisation of these technologies. Previous focus areas led by Ella have included photonics, and currently, frontier compute.

Ella also supports the day-to-day running of techUK's Emerging Tech and Innovation Policy activity, working to convene industry experts and policymakers to showcase best practice, shape government thinking, and ensure the UK leads on the development and deployment of transformative technologies.

Before joining techUK, Ella completed an internship at Digital Catapult, supporting across public affairs, policy and the organisation's programmes. She also has experience working in an MP's Parliamentary and Constituency Office.

Ella holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-shuter-264158244/

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Rory Daniels

Head of Emerging Technology and Innovation, techUK

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the UK Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's five-strong Emerging Technology and Innovation team, working with many of the UK's most innovative tech companies to convene experts and decision-makers, showcase best practice, shape government's thinking, and ensure the UK leads on developing and deploying transformative technologies.

The team's main areas of focus are AI Innovation, Quantum, Semiconductors, Robotics, Photonics, Neuromorphic, Innovation Policy, and Technology Convergence.

Rory sits on BIST's expert Robotics Advisory Group, hosts techUK's Meet the Innovators video interview series, and chairs techUK's Emerging Tech Leadership Committee, comprising 36 senior leaders from the UK's most exciting tech companies. He has also judged the Global Space Awards, hosted London Tech Week's Deep Tech Stage, completed Stanford University's Tech & Entrepreneurship residency, and given oral evidence in a House of Lords Select Committee.

In his spare time, Rory enjoys photography, reading non-fiction (tech, architecture, design & geopolitics), and searching for London's best burger.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

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Elis Thomas

Programme Manager, Tech and Innovation, techUK

Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.

He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.

Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.