{
  "id": 17915381,
  "title": "UK ‘risks losing quantum champions’ without government backing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/uk-risks-losing-quantum-champions-without-government-backing",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-03T05:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/uk-risks-losing-quantum-champions-without-government-backing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Universal Quantum, a Sussex-based quantum startup, warns that Britain risks losing its quantum computing companies to overseas rivals within two years unless the government invests more and prioritises British technology. CEO Sebastian Weidt stated that the company's recent $100 million fundraising round, the largest quantum Series A funding in the UK, came mostly from overseas investors. Weidt believes the government's decisions over the coming months will determine whether Universal Quantum continues to expand in Britain or shifts more operations abroad. The company has unveiled a new quantum processing chip, aimed at connecting enough qubits to build commercially useful quantum computers, a goal crucial to solving the industry's biggest challenge. Despite a £2 billion commitment to quantum technologies, Weidt questions if public funding is reaching the right companies, arguing that ministers should prioritize domestic developers over better-funded international competitors. He believes the UK has a last chance to create a trillion-dollar company in Europe and the UK, urging the government to take equity stakes in British quantum companies and award more public contracts to domestic developers. This call for government support comes as the US adopts a more interventionist approach, backing domestic quantum manufacturers and securing critical supply chains. Weidt also advocates for a dedicated quantum minister, questioning why the technology lacks political attention compared to AI.",
  "summary": "Britain risks losing its remaining homegrown quantum computing companies to overseas rivals within two years unless ministers step up investment and prioritise British tech, the boss of Universal Quantum has warned. Sebastian Weidt, chief executive and co-founder of the Sussex-based quantum startup, told City AM that the government’s decisions over the coming months would determine [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}