United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada are backing eight projects that seek to commercialize quantum technologies. According to UKRI, the effort is the first industry-led partnership between any two countries to develop quantum technologies. The partnership follows an agreement signed by the two nations in 2017 to share quantum expertise through academic and business collaborations.

The projects will be sharing £2 million from UKRI and 4.4 million CAD from the Canadian government. The projects include several focused on quantum key distribution for high-security communications, and optical sensors for magnetic fields, as well as new ways to connect integrated quantum photonic devices. Each project has a U.K. business lead and a Canadian academic lead, as well as research organizations and other company and government partners from both countries.