Quantum Computing Applications for Large Scale Impact: CR&D

Innovate UK has launched the Quantum Computing Applications for Large Scale Impact: Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) competition to accelerate the development of quantum computing software capable of solving real-world industrial and public sector challenges. Successful projects must develop quantum software applications, validate their performance on near-term quantum hardware or cloud-based platforms, and present a credible pathway for commercial adoption within the UK.

The competition is designed to strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in quantum technologies while supporting innovations that can transform critical sectors including healthcare, finance, transport, infrastructure, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence.

Key Dates and Funding

Opens: 4 August 2026

Closes: 16 September 2026

Funding: Up to £13 million is available across the competition. Individual projects can request between £300,000 and £4 million in grant funding.

Programme Overview

The competition aims to support collaborative projects that develop quantum software capable of delivering practical advantages over classical computing methods.

Projects must focus on solving clearly defined industrial or public sector challenges by developing quantum computing applications that can be validated on near-term quantum systems. Applicants are expected to demonstrate technical feasibility, benchmark performance, engage end users, and develop clear commercialisation plans that support future deployment in the UK.

Successful projects should contribute towards building commercially viable quantum computing applications while strengthening the UK's quantum ecosystem and industrial capability.

Priority Themes

Projects must focus on one or more of the following application areas:

Healthcare and drug discovery
Financial services
Transport and infrastructure optimisation
Design and simulation of new materials
Quantum machine learning

Innovate UK particularly encourages proposals aligned with national priorities including energy systems, infrastructure, healthcare, climate resilience, security, productivity, and public sector innovation.

Who Can Apply

The competition is open to collaborative projects led by a UK-registered business of any size.

Eligible project partners include:

UK businesses
Academic institutions
Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
Public sector organisations
Charities
Not-for-profit organisations

To be eligible:

The project must include at least two grant-claiming organisations.
The lead and at least one collaborator must request funding.
No single grant-claiming organisation can account for more than 70% of the total eligible project costs.
No individual organisation can request more than £1 million per project.
Academic institutions cannot lead projects.

Project Requirements

Projects must:

Request between £300,000 and £4 million in grant funding
Last between 24 and 36 months
Address a clearly defined industrial or public sector problem
Develop quantum software as the primary project output
Demonstrate benchmarking and validation on near-term quantum computing systems or equivalent simulations
Show potential advantages over classical computing methods
Engage end users throughout development
Present a clear commercialisation and UK adoption strategy
Carry out the majority of project work within the UK

Funding Requirements

Funding is available for industrial research projects only.

Funding intensity depends on organisation size:

Micro and small businesses: up to 70%
Medium-sized businesses: up to 60%
Large businesses: up to 50%

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activities may collectively account for up to 30% of total eligible project costs, with eligible organisations able to receive up to 100% of eligible costs (or 80% Full Economic Cost for academic institutions).

Why This Competition Matters

Quantum computing is rapidly moving from theoretical research into practical commercial deployment. Organisations that begin developing applications today will be well positioned to exploit increasingly capable quantum hardware over the coming years.

This competition enables businesses to work alongside research organisations, technology providers, and end users to validate practical quantum applications that could transform sectors ranging from healthcare and financial services to logistics, manufacturing, and national infrastructure.

By supporting collaborative industrial research, Innovate UK aims to accelerate commercial adoption while strengthening the UK's leadership in quantum technologies.

How Inventya Can Help

Preparing a successful quantum computing proposal requires much more than demonstrating technical excellence. Applicants must also present a compelling commercial opportunity, a strong collaborative consortium, and a credible route to adoption. Inventya supports organisations throughout the entire application process, helping to transform innovative ideas into competitive funding proposals.

Our support includes:

Eligibility and scope assessment to confirm that your project aligns with the competition objectives, research category, funding rules, and quantum technology priorities.
Consortium building and partner engagement, helping identify suitable industrial, academic, technology, and end-user partners while establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and collaboration structures.
Technical proposal development, ensuring the project clearly demonstrates innovation, benchmarking methodology, quantum advantage, validation plans, and measurable outcomes.
Commercialisation and market strategy, developing strong exploitation plans, routes to market, customer adoption strategies, intellectual property considerations, and long-term business impact.
Work package and project planning, creating realistic project timelines, milestones, deliverables, risk management strategies, and governance structures aligned with Innovate UK expectations.
Budget development and financial review, ensuring eligible costs, funding rates, partner allocations, and value for money are fully compliant with competition requirements.
Impact and assessment optimisation, strengthening responses against Innovate UK's assessment criteria by clearly evidencing technical capability, economic impact, UK benefit, and societal value.
Final application review, providing a comprehensive quality assurance review to improve clarity, consistency, competitiveness, and overall proposal strength before submission.

With extensive experience supporting collaborative Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator, Eurostars, and other national and international innovation programmes, Inventya helps organisations maximise their chances of securing funding while building projects with strong commercial and societal impact.

Quantum Computing Applications for Large Scale Impact: CR&D

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