The UK and Germany have set out an expanded programme of collaboration designed to accelerate progress in quantum technology and enhance long-term scientific and industrial capabilities across both countries. The joint commitment, announced during the final day of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s State Visit to the UK, signals a strengthened partnership at a time when quantum research is becoming central to innovation in advanced manufacturing, digital construction, and the wider technology landscape.
Quantum technology is moving from early-stage research to large-scale industrial applications. By 2045, quantum could contribute more than £11 billion to the UK economy and support over 100,000 jobs. As construction, manufacturing and infrastructure organisations adopt more data-driven processes, quantum computing, sensing and navigation systems are expected to influence new digital construction workflows, asset management approaches and research pipelines for materials and building systems.
Against this backdrop, both countries have outlined a set of joint measures to deepen collaboration and provide a platform for industry and academia to advance quantum innovation.
New joint funding for quantum R&D
A £6 million UK–Germany research and development funding call will open in early 2026, jointly delivered by Innovate UK and VDI Germany. This investment aims to support bilateral research teams working on quantum technologies with the potential to impact sectors such as digital construction, advanced manufacturing, medical technology and secure communications.
For developers of quantum-enabled tools, whether quantum sensors for structural monitoring, quantum-safe cybersecurity for construction data systems, or advanced navigation technologies for automated equipment, this funding opens new opportunities for collaboration between UK and German organisations.
Investment in Fraunhofer’s Glasgow photonics hub
An additional £8 million will support the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow. The centre plays a role in the commercialisation of applied photonics, which underpins many quantum technologies used in sectors from healthcare to engineering. For the digital construction sector, advances in photonics can support more precise surveying, next-generation imaging systems and improved sensing for complex infrastructure.
The investment will help UK businesses accelerate quantum product development and bring research advances closer to adoption in real-world industrial workflows.
Strengthening international quantum standards
The UK’s National Physical Laboratory and Germany’s Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding focused on quantum measurement standards. This work complements the NMI-Q initiative, a global programme aimed at ensuring shared standards for quantum technologies.
Harmonised standards are essential for scaling quantum applications across borders. In the built environment, this could support the production of interoperable quantum sensors, measurement equipment and data-driven tools capable of integrating with existing digital construction platforms.
AI and supercomputing links continue to expand
The UK’s National Supercomputing Centre was recently selected by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking to host the UK’s AI Factory Antenna, partnering with the HammerHAI AI Factory in Stuttgart. To strengthen this relationship, the UK Government is allocating up to £3.9 million to support UK participation in three EuroHPC calls focused on exascale and AI-ready tools.
For digital construction stakeholders, deeper AI-quantum-supercomputing integration will be important for the development of high-fidelity simulation environments, predictive modelling workflows and accelerated materials research.
A partnership framed by long-term strategy
All initiatives announced during the State Visit form part of the Strategic Science and Technology Partnership launched earlier this year alongside the Kensington Treaty. They reinforce the position of both countries as leading contributors to global research organisations including CERN and Horizon Europe.
For the digital construction sector, this growing UK–Germany partnership offers expanded access to quantum research, photonics innovation, and high-performance computing infrastructure. As quantum technology begins to intersect with construction digital twins, precision sensing, materials engineering and secure data environments, industry organisations will find increasing value in the scientific and commercial ecosystem developing across Europe.
The UK–Germany commitment to quantum technology marks a significant step in preparing both countries for the next phase of scientific and industrial innovation. With joint investment, shared standards and expanded research infrastructure, the partnership creates an environment where quantum technologies can progress from laboratory concepts to tools that influence sectors including digital construction, advanced manufacturing and national infrastructure planning.
For an industry undergoing digital transformation, these developments signal a shift towards more capable sensing systems, more secure digital workflows and more advanced computational resources. As quantum capability grows, the built environment stands to benefit from deeper insight, improved operational resilience and new pathways to industrial innovation.
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