Prime Highlights:
- The UK and US have signed a landmark “Quantum Growth Bridge” agreement to boost cooperation in quantum technology, investment, and job creation.
- The partnership connects Bristol’s growing quantum cluster with Colorado’s Tech Hub, strengthening both regions as global leaders in innovation.
Key Facts:
- The Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre (QTIC) in Bristol has received £35 million in funding from the West of England Authority to support start-ups and researchers.
- The deal supports the West of England’s Growth Strategy, which aims to create 72,000 new jobs over the next decade.
Background:
In a major step toward strengthening international technology ties, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the University of Bristol, and the U.S.-based Elevate Quantum have signed a landmark transatlantic agreement to accelerate collaboration in quantum technologies.
The initiative, titled the “Quantum Growth Bridge,” aims to connect the UK’s rapidly developing quantum ecosystem with the Mountain West region of the United States, covering Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The partnership seeks to drive investment, create high-value jobs, and align research with industry needs, paving the way for large-scale commercialisation of quantum technologies.
The deal builds on earlier UK-U.S. agreements like the Technology Prosperity Agreement and the UK-Colorado partnership, which focus on working together in advanced technology. By linking Colorado’s Tech Hub with Bristol’s growing quantum centre, the partnership will help both regions strengthen their roles as global leaders in this field.
During the signing event in Bristol, U.S. delegates visited the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre at the University of Bristol to explore ongoing research and collaboration opportunities.Innovation Centre (QTIC) at the University of Bristol, which supports early-stage quantum start-ups and entrepreneurs. The centre, backed by £35 million from the West of England Authority, will expand next year with the opening of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, a new hub for research and enterprise.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, called the deal “a game-changer” for the region, adding that it would lead to “new jobs, stronger international partnerships, and continued innovation in clean energy, healthcare, and advanced computing.”
Zach Yerushalmi, CEO of Elevate Quantum, said the agreement places Colorado and New Mexico “at the centre of global quantum collaboration,” while Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, described it as “a strong vote of confidence” in the region’s world-class research capabilities.
Supported by UK and U.S. government departments, the agreement is expected to boost private investment and support the creation of new businesses in both countries. As part of Bristol’s wider Growth Strategy, it contributes to an ambition of creating 72,000 new jobs over the next decade, reinforcing the West of England’s status as a major player in global tech innovation.
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