Swindon & Wiltshire News
West of England signs tech agreement with US quantum leaders in UK first
A landmark transatlantic technology deal has been signed by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the University of Bristol, and the largest regional quantum consortium in America.
The agreement – which was signed today (Tuesday) and the very first of its kind anywhere in the UK – is an important first step for more investment and jobs across the West of England and the Mountain West region of the United States – Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Areas of cooperation to drive growth include aligning academic research with industry needs, integrating supply chains, and supporting scale-up quantum businesses.
This transatlantic agreement follows the first ever Tech Prosperity Deal signed between the UK and US in September, which saw a record-breaking £280 billion of new investment committed by British and American firms.
Among them were NVIDIA, a key partner in developing the £225 million Isambard-AI, the country’s most powerful supercomputer and the world’s fastest university-based supercomputer, with the University of Bristol and HPE at the NCC and Bristol & Bath Science Park.
It also builds on January’s UK-Colorado deal to increase trade, strengthen business links, and enhance academic ties to boost research.
By forging direct ties between the two regions, a new Quantum Growth Bridge aims to accelerate investment in advanced, quantum computing and technologies.
Senior representatives from the Colorado and New Mexico quantum sectors visited the West of England to sign the agreement, joined by the region’s mayor and the vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol.
During their visit, the US delegates toured world-leading research facilities in Bristol, including the University of Bristol’s Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre, which helps early-stage entrepreneurs and start-up companies to become commercially viable.
Backed by £35 million of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, QTIC is currently at pilot stage and will be boosted next year when the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus opens with 38,000 square metres of space for education, innovation and collaboration – alongside a third incubator from Science Creates, the city’s pioneering deep tech ecosystem, which is a joint venture with the university.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Digital and tech job growth here in the West has led the way over the last decade – stronger than any other region, including London.
“These foundations have helped secure this cutting-edge agreement to enable new investment and create new jobs.
“Working with Elevate Quantum, guided by our new Growth Strategy, we know that the best is yet to come.
“Advanced technologies being pioneered in the Mountain West and in the West of England are developing products and services that will help change the world, in everything from clean energy to healthcare.
“Researchers at both ends of our 4,600-mile-long ‘quantum growth bridge’ are now better connected to continue to lead the way in this exciting innovation. The future starts here.”
