NQS Mission 2: Components, systems and architectures (Grant)

Apply for funding to advance the research capabilities required to deliver the UK National Quantum Strategy Mission 2, strengthening the UK’s leadership in quantum networking and communications and accelerating progress towards the deployment of the world’s most advanced quantum network and the future quantum internet. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding. The full economic cost (FEC) of your application can be up to £2.56 million. EPSRC will fund 80% of the FEC. Projects must be no more than 33 months in duration with the latest start date of 31 May 2027. Demand management Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity. Aim EPSRC are delivering this funding opportunity as part of the UKRI Quantum Technologies Priority Programme. This funding opportunity supports the aims of the UK National Quantum Strategy Mission 2 (QM2), which seeks to establish the UK as a world leader in quantum networking and communications by developing secure, scalable quantum networks and laying the foundations for a future quantum internet. By 2035, QM2 aims for the UK to have deployed advanced quantum networks at scale and to be pioneering the technologies and capabilities needed to realise the quantum internet. Successful applications will undertake ambitious research that addresses key scientific and technological challenges underpinning future quantum networks and communications systems. Projects should demonstrate how the proposed research will contribute to the development of quantum networking capabilities, strengthen the UK research and innovation ecosystem, and support progress towards the long-term objectives of Mission 2. Projects should also consider how the knowledge, evidence, capabilities and partnerships generated through the research could inform the development and prioritisation of future activities within Mission 2, helping to shape subsequent phases of mission delivery. You are encouraged to consider pathways to impact and commercialisation, as well as engagement with relevant stakeholders, including industry, infrastructure providers, network operators, government organisations, and the wider quantum communications community, where appropriate to the proposed research. QM2 builds on significant advances in quantum communications, networking technologies, photonics, quantum memories, distributed quantum systems and entanglement-based networking. Delivering its ambitions will require research into the components, systems and architectures needed to enable secure, scalable and resilient quantum networks across local, regional and national scales, while supporting future international connectivity and longer-term quantum internet capabilities. Scope This funding opportunity will support research that advances the components, systems and architectures required for future quantum networking and communications systems. Key research challenges include: • quantum networking components, systems and architectures • integration of quantum and classical infrastructure • enabling technologies required to support future deployment and adoption This funding opportunity will support ambitious research projects that address the fundamental challenges of quantum networking and communications and advance the components, systems and architectures required for secure, scalable quantum networks, accelerating progress towards the objectives of Mission 2. Research in the following areas is welcomed: • quantum network nodes, routing and switching (including quantum routers, switches, multiplexers and network architectures for distributing and managing quantum information) • quantum memories and repeaters (including technologies that extend communication distances and support scalable entanglement distribution) • photonic sources, detectors and entanglement generation technologies (including foundational components required for future network deployment) • systems integration and classical-quantum co-design (including synchronisation, control, interoperability and integration with existing communications infrastructure) • end-to-end network architectures and distributed quantum capability (including approaches to networking quantum devices and supporting future distributed quantum computing applications) • verification, benchmarking, security and resilience (including methods to characterise, validate and assure quantum networking systems) • application-driven network developm

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible . UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page . You may be named as project lead in no more than one application. There is no limit to the number of applications you can be named as project co-lead. International researchers The UKRI-RCN (UK Research and Innovation and Research Council of Norway) money follows cooperation agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such applications submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international). You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. Resubmissions We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder. Find out more about UKRI’s resubmission’s policy . Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes: • career breaks • support for people with caring responsibilities • flexible working • alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service: https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1321/apply/1349 We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application. Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI. To apply Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page. • Confirm you are the project lead. • Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. • Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page. • Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office. • Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing. • Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI. Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant. Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. When including images, you must: • provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit) • insert each new image onto a new line • use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include: • sentences or paragraphs of text • tables • excessive quantities of images A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column. For more guidance on the Funding Service, see: • how applicants use the Funding Service • how research offices use the Funding Service • how reviewers use the Funding Service References References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to th