UK Risks Repeating Semiconductor and AI Mistakes Unless Government Acts Now on Quantum, Warns Cross-Party Parliamentary Group
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
A cross-party parliamentary group has warned that the UK risks failing to capture long-term economic value from its quantum technologies investments unless stronger action is taken on scale-up funding, talent, supply chains, procurement, and research support. Despite over £1 billion in public investment, the UK faces shortages of late-stage growth capital, workforce challenges, and limited government procurement of quantum technologies, which could undermine its goal of securing 15% of the global quantum market by 2033.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The UK's failure to capitalize on its early leadership in quantum technologies could lead to a repeat of the pattern seen in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, where British scientific firsts failed to generate lasting economic value at home.
- · This would undermine the country's ambition to become a global leader in the quantum sector and potentially miss out on significant economic benefits, including 148,000 jobs and £12.9 billion to GDP by 2055.