The UK and Germany have unveiled a major step forward in scientific collaboration, announcing £14 million in joint initiatives aimed at unlocking the vast potential of quantum technology.
The agreements were announced on the final day of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s state visit to the UK and signal a significant strengthening of cross-border research ties.
Commenting on the landmark agreement, UK Science Secretary Lord Vallance said: “Quantum technologies will revolutionize areas such as cybersecurity, drug discovery and medical imaging. International cooperation is essential to unlock these benefits.”
“With its deep R&D expertise, first-class skills and world-leading institutions, Germany is a natural partner for the UK in these efforts.
“This is an effort that not only advances the boundaries of knowledge, but also supports stronger economies, better jobs, and healthier and safer societies for both countries.”
A new era of quantum collaboration
Quantum technology is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most innovative scientific frontiers.
Industry forecasts suggest it could add £11 billion to the UK economy by 2045 and support more than 100,000 jobs in the country.
From ultra-accurate medical scanners to drug discovery simulations completed in seconds instead of years, this technology promises breakthroughs that impact health, security, and industry.
Against this backdrop, the two countries, already Europe’s closest research partners, have announced a £6 million joint R&D fund.
Scheduled to launch in early 2026, the initiative will see the UK’s Innovate and Germany’s VDI each contributing £3m to accelerate quantum collaboration and innovation.
Investment in applied photonics
A further £8 million will be earmarked for the Fraunhofer Center for Applied Photonics in Glasgow, strengthening its globally recognized research in applied photonics and quantum innovation.
The investment aims to help fast-growing UK companies transform cutting-edge research into commercial, market-ready quantum products.
In parallel, the UK’s National Institute of Physics and Germany’s Federal Institute for Physics and Technology signed a new Memorandum of Understanding.
The agreement aligns their efforts with the international NMI-Q initiative, which is developing a globally recognized quantum measurement standard, an important step in scaling the quantum industry of the future.
Strengthened scientific relationships across disciplines
President Steinmeier’s visit also included a tour of Siemens Healthineers in Oxford. There, a German-British collaboration supports the production of superconducting magnets for MRI scanners. This is an example of how collaborative research can directly lead to highly skilled jobs and medical innovation.
The quantum announcement builds on a series of recent bilateral achievements. During the European Space Agency’s budget negotiations, the UK and Germany jointly supported the program to the tune of over 6 billion euros.
This includes joint support for companies such as launch services, the VIGIL space weather mission and Rocket Factory Augsburg, which is scheduled to begin launching from Scotland in 2026.
Expanding partnerships into AI and supercomputing
Cooperation in advanced computing is also accelerating. The National Supercomputing Center in Edinburgh was recently selected as the home of the UK’s AI Factory Antenna and is operated in partnership with the HammerHAI AI Factory in Stuttgart.
To strengthen this partnership, the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will provide up to £3.9 million to support the UK’s participation in the EuroHPC project to develop exascale-capable AI-powered tools.
These efforts highlight the momentum behind the Strategic Science and Technology Partnership signed earlier this year and demonstrate a deepening commitment by both countries to harness the potential of quantum technology and other pioneering areas.
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