thequantuminsider.com
Oct 31, 2026
Speakers Point to Risk Appetite And Capital as UK Deep-Tech Bottlenecks at City Quantum & AI Summit
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
At the sixth City Quantum & AI Summit on October 7, 2026, a defense panel highlighted that institutional risk appetite, not procurement rules, hinders the UK armed forces’ adoption of AI and quantum technologies. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin noted that completing a £200 million defense business case averages over 1,000 days before a contract is signed. Speakers from Helsing, Thales, Multiverse Computing, and Delta.g emphasized sovereignty and partnership, while British Business Bank Chair Stephen Welton announced a £100 million commitment to OQC’s Series C to signal UK capital’s role in deep‑tech growth.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The summit exposes a systemic delay that could leave UK forces technologically behind rivals, underscoring the need for a cultural shift toward faster risk‑taking in defense procurement.
