How the UK Can Capitalise on the Quantum Opportunity by Prioritising Deployable Quantum Technologies
Read the guest blog from Quantum Dice as part of World Quantum Day 2025.
In March 2023, the UK unveiled an ambitious vision to become a ‘quantum-enabled economy,’ launching a ten-year strategy backed by £2.5 billion in public funding for research, innovation, and skills to support its quantum technology industry. As the Royal Academy of Engineering notes in its Quantum Infrastructure Review, “the UK was an early mover in quantum technologies, action is needed now to capitalise on that advantage.” With quantum on the global stage in 2025, the UN’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, it's an apt time to revisit the UK’s vision and explore how it can capitalise on the quantum opportunity by prioritising the commercial scale-up of mature quantum technologies.
Industry collaboration to accelerate adoption
Collaboration between industry, academia, and government is crucial for driving the adoption and commercialisation of quantum technologies. Initiatives like Digital Catapult’s Digital Security by Design (DSbD) Technology Access Programme (TAP) play a key role in making this happen. DSbD TAP, which Quantum Dice joined as part of the sixth cohort, connects technology suppliers with end users, enabling companies to test and integrate prototype cutting-edge technology in real-world environments.
This approach not only supports the development of new technologies but also reduces the risks associated with their adoption. Programmes like DSbD TAP can support UK companies, like Quantum Dice, commercialising mature quantum technologies, such as quantum random number generation (QRNG), to scale their innovations.
National leadership to drive enterprise adoption of quantum solutions
For businesses to confidently invest in quantum technologies, national leadership in setting clear regulatory standards and best practices is necessary. As an example, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has led efforts in standardising QRNGs, which has in turn helped Quantum Dice to commercialise its technology. By establishing industry benchmarks, the NPL’s work has helped foster trust in the technology, paving the way for end users explore commercial use cases. The UK should continue to lead in setting globally recognised standards that encourage enterprise adoption.
Facilitating easier international market entry
Expanding quantum technology beyond the UK’s borders is key to long-term growth. Simplifying international market entry will help UK-based quantum companies with deployable products to scale, boost adoption, and strengthen their global presence. This requires streamlining export regulations, aligning with international security standards, and fostering cross-border collaborations. By easing market access, the UK can position itself as a global leader in quantum innovation, attracting investment and growth opportunities.
Enabling investor capability in quantum
Investment is essential for the UK to harness the full commercial potential of mature quantum technologies. Despite growth in Venture Capital (VC), deep tech sectors, including quantum, have often been overlooked. Initiatives like the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Venture Capital Fellowship, backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, are helping build VC expertise in quantum. Strengthening investor capability is key to fuelling quantum companies, enabling them to scale, innovate, and compete globally.
Access to talent and developing skills
A strong talent pipeline is essential to the UK’s quantum ambitions. The International Year of Quantum’s opening ceremony, attended by Quantum Dice’s Wenmiao Yu and George Dunlop as part of an Institute of Physics delegation, highlighted the need for quantum skills development. To maintain leadership, the UK must invest in education and training, foster university-industry collaborations, and attract global talent. A skilled workforce will help companies with deployable quantum technologies hit the ground running and allow the UK to capitalise on the quantum opportunity.
In summary
Mature quantum technologies that are already being deployed offer a ripe foundation for the UK to leverage and realise its ambition to become a ‘quantum-enabled economy.’ By focusing on key enablers for commercialisation – such as industry collaboration, clear standardisation, simple market entry, investment, and talent – the UK can help homegrown companies with deployable quantum products scale effectively.
One of the most mature quantum technologies is Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs). Learn about how Quantum Dice is bringing its patented DISCTM -protected QRNGs to market at www.quantum-dice.com.
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techUK's Quantum Working Group focuses on pushing forward the UK's emerging quantum market whilst addressing key challenges hindering commercialisation such as skills, procurement and trade.
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
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Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the 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 whilst 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 emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
Running from July to December 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
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Activity took the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in 2025).
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.
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Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the 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 whilst 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 emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
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Activity is taking the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in Q4 2025).
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Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the 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 whilst 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 emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
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Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK
Laura Foster
Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.