Government invests in new National Cryogenic Facility (NCF) at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory to support next-generation computing.
The Liverpool City Region and the north west more generally will become a global centre for next-generation quantum computing technology. That, at least, is the plan – with the government investing £51m in a new state-of-the-art cryogenic facility to support that work.
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The NCF will provide the ultra-cold environments – at 2 Kelvin or –271.15°C, close to absolute zero – that are needed to test such new technologies. That will enable existing quantum businesses in the region and across the UK to scale up. Industry leaders say that scaling depends on access to liquid helium cooling.
Indeed, the infrastructure and support available recently attracting Silicon Valley-based PsiQuantum to set up a base at Daresbury Laboratory.
Although quantum applications are the focus of the new NCF, a range of other industries could benefit from the NCF. That includes through advanced fusion energy via the testing of superconducting magnets, improved MRI systems via advanced materials testing and support for the development of hydrogen-powered flight.
Paul Vernon, Head of STFC Daresbury Laboratory, says: ‘This new investment is a defining moment, not just for Daresbury Laboratory and the Liverpool City Region, but for the UK’s place in the global technology race. Truly game-changing infrastructure, the NCF is possibly the first user facility of this kind. It unlocks quantum computing at scale and provides a major stepping stone for breakthroughs in renewable energy, healthcare, security and other technologies that will shape our future.
‘As the first national facility to be located here since the SRS closed in 2008, this landmark investment signals a bold new era, turbocharging innovation, attracting world-class talent and investment, putting the north west and the UK squarely at the heart of transformative science.’
Massimo Noro, Director of Business Development at STFC, adds: ‘The NCF will give businesses access to world-class infrastructure and expertise to develop, test, and scale advanced technologies. Possibly the first open access large-scale cryogenic facility across the globe, it will accelerate innovation, reduce the risks of scaling up, and support the growth of existing companies across the region and beyond.
‘At the same time, it will help build the UK’s future workforce through apprenticeships and advanced training, ensuring the next generation of scientists and engineers are equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving global technology landscape.’
Mark Thompson, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at PsiQuantum, says: ‘PsiQuantum is proud to have deep roots in the United Kingdom, which has long been a leading driver of expertise and innovation for quantum computing technologies. The government’s new investments across the industry—especially in the critical infrastructure at the NCF in Daresbury—reflect the important role of robust public-private partnerships in building up the infrastructure, innovation, and talent that will ultimately deliver utility-scale quantum computing and sharpen the UK’s tech leadership.’
Matt Martin, Managing Director of Quantum Design Oxford, adds: ‘With the recent UK government announcements of investment in quantum computing, we are delighted to see this corresponding commitment to a National Cryogenic Facility. This provides critical infrastructure essential for UK science and the scale-up of quantum computing. It has the potential to attract industrial partnerships and complement other UKRI facilities at the NQCC and Hartree Centre.’
Dr Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum, says: ‘The UK’s NCF is an important step toward building the infrastructure that advanced quantum technologies will require as they scale. Reliable access to large-scale cryogenic capability will accelerate progress across the global quantum ecosystem. Initiatives like this demonstrate how continued investment in foundational infrastructure can support the growth of the quantum economy.’
Loren Jones, Senior Vice President and Head of Energy & Environment – International Business at Amentum, adds: ‘The NCF represents a landmark investment in the UK’s industrial capability and benefits a range of key industries, from energy and aerospace, to medical and manufacturing. For companies like Amentum, which is involved in some of the UK’s largest nuclear projects, the NCF provides a vital sovereign capability to support the nation’s energy security and export capabilities. Paired with the High Temperature Facility in Warrington, the north-west of England is the natural home for the UK’s extreme temperature testing, supporting the nuclear resurgence and the economic benefits it brings.’
Steven Metcalfe, CEO of Quantum Exponential, says: ‘We welcome the UK’s commitment to establishing a domestic cryogenic facility at Daresbury. Cryogenics is a critical enabling technology for many quantum systems, and access to national infrastructure of this kind is vital for scaling the UK’s quantum sector. As the only specialist quantum VC fund with its primary focus on the UK, Quantum Exponential strongly supports initiatives that strengthen the domestic quantum supply chain and ensure that breakthrough research can translate into world-leading companies built and scaled in the UK.’
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