UK bets big on homegrown fusion and quantum - can it lead the world?

"Officials say that the quantum investment will lay the foundations for the United Kingdom to become the first country to roll out the large-scale use of quantum computers and be the fastest to adopt artificial intelligence in the G7 group of nations. The £2-billion quantum package aims to support research, infrastructure, skills and commercialization, including funding for hardware and software development, expanded facilities and support for start-ups and industry partnerships."

"The changes - announced on 16 March as part of an ongoing national science and technology strategy - have been broadly welcomed by the research community. And officials say that the money and increased strategic focus will help to push the United Kingdom to the forefront of both fields globally."

"However, some point out that long-term commitments and more money will be needed if Britain is to push past its competitors. Others lament that the funding is not so much heightened ambition as necessary merely to maintain aspects of the nation's current scientific capabilities given the disruptive effects Brexit had on its science funding and access to joint European projects."

Britain announced £2 billion in quantum-computing investment and £2.5 billion in nuclear-fusion funding as part of its national science and technology strategy. Officials aim to position the United Kingdom at the forefront of both fields globally and become the first country to deploy large-scale quantum computers. The funding supports research, infrastructure, skills development, and commercialization, including hardware and software development, expanded facilities, and start-up support. The government pledges to procure successful systems as they emerge. However, critics argue that long-term commitments and additional funding are necessary to compete globally. Some view these investments as necessary to restore capabilities lost due to Brexit's disruption to science funding and European project access, particularly following the UK's withdrawal from the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

Read at Nature