National Quantum Computing Centre
UK national quantum-computing facility at Harwell; co-leads the DeepTech Catalyst Quantum startup programme.
Last refreshed: 22 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can the NQCC convert quantum research into investable UK startups within 18 months?
Timeline for National Quantum Computing Centre
Co-named DTC Quantum cohort with STFC
UK Startups and Innovation: DTC Quantum names four Harwell cohort firms- What is the National Quantum Computing Centre and what does it do?
- The NQCC is a UK national facility at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, established as a joint UKRI initiative (STFC and EPSRC) to accelerate quantum-computing capability and bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment.
- Which startups did the NQCC select for its 2026 quantum cohort?
- The NQCC and STFC co-named four startups in the inaugural DTC Quantum cohort in April 2026: Curenetics, Coherence Engine, AmorphiQ, and Qascade, each receiving £50,000 to £100,000 plus 50 hours of business support.Source: Lowdown
- How does the NQCC fit into the UK government ProQure quantum strategy?
- The NQCC co-leads DTC Quantum, the commercial startup programme within the broader ProQure framework that commits £2bn to quantum technology deployment. It acts as the technical gateway connecting research with early-stage companies.Source: Lowdown
- Where is the National Quantum Computing Centre located?
- The NQCC is based at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, a major UK science and innovation site that also hosts the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and other UKRI facilities.
Background
On 16 April 2026, the National Quantum Computing Centre co-named the inaugural DeepTech Catalyst Quantum (DTC Quantum) cohort at its Harwell Campus base alongside UKRI's Science and Technology Facilities Council. Four startups, Curenetics, Coherence Engine, AmorphiQ, and Qascade, each received £50,000 to £100,000 in R&D funding plus 50 hours of business support and investor introductions.
The NQCC is a national facility established at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire as a joint initiative of two UKRI research councils, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It was created to accelerate the UK's quantum-computing capability by bridging the gap between laboratory research and practical deployment, offering access to quantum hardware, software expertise, and industry collaboration for researchers and companies alike.
The DTC Quantum cohort represents the commercial startup layer the government anticipated when it placed £2bn behind quantum technology via the ProQure procurement programme. The NQCC's co-leadership of DTC Quantum puts it at the centre of the UK's attempt to translate publicly funded quantum research into private-sector companies capable of attracting follow-on investment. The critical test over the next 18 months is whether the four cohort firms convert programme support into venture funding.