Overall Description

Quantum Computing Applications for Large Scale Impact: CR&D is an Innovate UK competition providing up to £13 million to develop and implement high-impact quantum computing software applications for near-term quantum computers.

Projects must address real-world industrial, economic, public-sector or societal problems where quantum computing could provide practical advantages over classical approaches. The focus is on demonstrating the commercial and broader societal value of quantum computing, rather than developing quantum hardware.

Projects must deliver validated quantum software applications, demonstrate or simulate their execution on near-term quantum systems, benchmark performance, and establish a credible pathway to commercial exploitation, adoption and scaling in the UK. Sectors where quantum computing could have a particularly disruptive impact are encouraged.

Funding Amount

• Total funding available: Up to £13 million;
• Grant request per project: £300,000–£4 million;
• Maximum grant request per organisation/project: £1 million;
  • Micro/small organisations: Up to 70% of eligible costs;
  • Medium organisations: Up to 60%;
  • Large organisations: Up to 50%;
  • Research organisations: Collectively maximum 30% of eligible project costs;
  • Academic institutions: Up to 80% FEC within the research participation limit;
  • Other eligible research organisations: Up to 100% within the research participation limit;
• Project duration: 24–36 months.

Submission Deadlines

• Opening: 4 August 2026;
• Online briefing: 12 August 2026;
• Application deadline: 16 September 2026 at 11:00 UK time;
• Applicants notified: 22 October 2026;
• Project start: By 1 January 2027;
• Project end: By 31 December 2029.

Submission Conditions

Projects must:

• Request £300,000–£4 million in grant funding;
• Last 24–36 months;
• Start by 1 January 2027;
• End by 31 December 2029;
• Be collaborative;
• Be led by a UK-registered business of any size;
• Include at least one other organisation claiming funding;
• Ensure no single grant-claiming organisation accounts for more than 70% of total eligible costs;
• Ensure no single organisation requests more than £1 million per project;
• Carry out funded project work in the UK;
• Intend to exploit project results in the UK;
• Spend the majority of funding in the UK.

An eligible organisation may lead only one application. A lead organisation may additionally participate as a collaborator in up to two further applications.

Eligible Types of Applicants

Project lead: UK-registered business of any size.

Eligible collaborators:

• Businesses of any size;
• Academic institutions;
• Charities;
• Not-for-profit organisations;
• Public-sector organisations;
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs).

Academic institutions cannot lead.

Eligible Countries

• Funded organisations: United Kingdom;
• Funded project work must be carried out in the UK;
• Project results must be intended for UK exploitation;
• EU and other non-UK organisations: May participate as non-funded partners;
• Non-UK partners can undertake their work in their home countries and exploit results outside the UK;
• Overseas subcontractors: Permitted only with strong justification for why appropriate UK subcontractors cannot be used.