Quantum could be Britain’s next tech breakthrough
Britain’s next tech titan could be a quantum company. That’s not a sentence I’d have said five years ago, writes Carolyn Dawson
Britain is sitting on a quantum goldmine
I spend a lot of time in rooms where we talk about tech’s impact. And the progress in quantum is something we should pay much more attention to.
The last decade has seen the UK build a cluster of world-leading quantum companies. The London and Oxbridge corridor of excellence hasn’t just produced brilliant science – we’re now seeing it translate into serious commercial momentum. Quantum Motion’s recent $160m raise, one of the largest ever secured by a European quantum startup, is a milestone worth noting. This is a moment in quantum that we’ll look back on as transformative, just as AI has been, as businesses race from research into scale and implementation phase.
While this is a time for great potential opportunity, we’ve also got to be clear about what needs fixing. Three quarters of founders have told us they’ve considered moving their headquarters out of the UK because scaling here is too hard. Quantum startups and scaling firms need access to talent, political stability and an investment environment that doesn’t penalise ambition.
Governments also need to do more than announce procurement programmes for emerging technologies. They need to become serious, sustained customers for European technology across the board. In the UK, the government is the single biggest buyer in the economy. If it committed to procuring AI and deep tech from British companies at scale, that would do more for the sector than any fund or tax incentive. The same logic applies across Europe.
What I believe will see the UK be successful through this period of quantum acceleration is our ability to combine world-class science, world-class founders and the right regulatory environment to act as a petri dish for quantum innovation. From where I’m sitting, Britain’s next tech titan could very well be a quantum company – and that’s not a sentence I’d have said five years ago.
The UK is firmly at the centre of Europe’s AI growth
While quantum is fast emerging, the UK is currently firmly at the centre of Europe’s AI growth.
The forthcoming Tech Nation Report 2026 shows our AI sector expanding three times faster than France’s and twice as fast as Germany’s. We see record investment and a growing AI workforce. The European ecosystem is vibrant and the UK is leading the region.
What strikes me is that this picture is reflected across Europe. Data released today by London Tech Week, in partnership with Omdia, shows European IT spending on track to hit $1.3 trillion in 2026 – accelerating at its fastest rate in five years. AI adoption is driving growth. Businesses are moving from experimenting with AI to actually deploying it. This is a fundamental shift.
As a continent, Europe has barrels of ambition. Now we need to convert that ambition into scale – and do that consistently. As the EU’s Tech Sovereignty package takes shape, the thing I’d caution against is the belief that policy alone gets you there. Founders, investors, corporates, governments and the infrastructure underpinning it all need to move in the same direction. That’s the only way we’ll retain our position at the forefront of the next wave.
Backing founders
Last week in Manchester, Tech Nation held the first edition of its NextWave competition, giving early-stage founders access to investment, expertise and networks. What stood out was not just the quality of the companies, but where they came from: 80 per cent of finalists were from outside London, and seven secured investment on the day. It’s thrilling to see founders, regardless of where they are in the UK, given a spotlight, access and backing.
Wonder at London Tech Week
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to London Tech Week at Olympia in June, build some slack into your diary for discovery and serendipity.
The main stages will be brilliant as always – we’ve brought together a unique mix of tech leaders, founders, ministers and investors, and there will be announcements worth clearing your calendar for. But the festival has expanded significantly and there’s so much more to explore this year.
A new feature I’m quite excited about is The Sandbox. This is our inaugural live demo area next to the Deep Tech Stage. It’s where you actually see the future. Strawberry-picking robots. Humanoid hands. Hydrogen cars. AI-generated scent. It sounds like science fiction, but it isn’t. That, for me, is what London Tech Week is really about: ambition you can see, touch and feel the thrill of.
Carolyn Dawson is CEO of Founders Forum Group