New funding calls offer funding to develop quantum sensors and evaluate practical applications for quantum computing.
Below are the key things you need to know about these competitions, both of which close in September.
To get an expert assessment of your eligibility or learn more about how our grant funding experts can help you secure funding, just get in touch.
Development of Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors
Funding available: £250,000 funding 100% of project costs
Deadline: 18 September 2025
The Development of Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors competition is looking to fund projects developing advanced radio frequency (RF) sensing capabilities.
It will support a variety of lab-based sensor technologies, including quantum sensors, that utilise frequencies ranging from 1MHz to 4GHz.
Funding up to 100% of project costs – which is rare for innovation grants – this call is open to businesses, academics and research organisations of all types.
This challenge is part of Co-Creation, an HMGCC initiative connecting industry, academic and government leaders to solve national security engineering challenges through innovation.
There are two stages: the written application and, if you’re successful, a pitch day in Milton Keynes on 14 October.
The combination of written and presentation rounds is common in innovation grants; GrantTree’s experts can maximise your chances of success in both.
Learn more about GrantTree’s grants expertise.
SparQ Quantum Computing Call
Funding available: £60,000 funding
Deadline: 30 September 2025
This National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) competition is looking to fund proof-of-concept research projects that test early practical applications for quantum computing.
The call is open to applications in all sectors, though projects focusing on energy, healthcare and transport/logistics are “particularly encouraged”, meaning they stand a better chance of winning funding.
The NQCC is also encouraging collaborations with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Innovation Clusters at Harwell Campus and Sci-Tech Daresbury.
Projects must be led by a registered business of any size. Academic institutions, research organisations, and other bodies can participate as partners.
Research efforts are expected to last around three months and should focus on:
- Analysing hardware and software requirements for the use cases
- Benchmarking quantum applications
- Developing models and trialling solutions with quantum algorithms or simulated processors
- Verifying the capabilities and limitations of current quantum computers
This competition falls within the SparQ Programme, which looks to support the UK’s readiness to utilise quantum computing by taking users from ‘awareness to advocacy’.
Want to Know if You’re Eligible? We Can Help.
If you would like to know whether your project qualifies for either call, my colleagues and I can perform a free Eligibility and Competitiveness Assessment.
In less than 30 minutes, we’ll tell you:
- Whether you’re eligible (and if not, why not)
- What we judge to be your chances of success
- What other grants and funding schemes you’re eligible for
