UKRI NQS Mission 2 components, systems and architectures 2026
UKRI offers up to £2.56 million full economic cost for quantum networking research in the UK. Apply by 24 November 2026.
UK Research and Innovation is funding research on the components, systems, and architectures needed for Mission 2 of the UK National Quantum Strategy. The opportunity status is open. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Science and Technology Facilities Council are the funders. The full economic cost of a project can be up to £2.56 million. EPSRC funds 80 percent of that cost, which is £2.05 million. The total fund is £10,750,000.
The call was published on 17 September 2026 and opened on 29 September 2026 at 9:00am UK time. Applications close on 24 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. A project may last up to 33 months and must start by 31 May 2027.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding. You may be the project lead on only one application. A researcher based in Norway cannot be an international project co lead. Other international collaborators join as project partners. UKRI will not accept an uninvited resubmission.
Projects should include at least one project partner unless there is a clear reason not to. Funded projects must take an active part in the Mission 2 Coordination Network. Welcomed topics include quantum routers and switches, memories and repeaters, photonic sources and detectors, design of classical and quantum systems together, end to end architectures, verification and security, and theory tied to applications. The list on the page is not exhaustive.
Costs can include research facilities, salaries, other posts, consumables, travel, and data sharing. Apply on the UKRI Funding Service from the opportunity page. You cannot use the older Je-S system. The project lead completes the form and sends it to their research office, which submits it to UKRI.
Quick answers
Is a project partner required?
Yes, at least one, unless you give a clear reason why a partner is not appropriate.
Do funded projects join the coordination network?
Yes. Successful projects must take an active part in the Mission 2 Coordination Network.
How long can a project run?
No more than 33 months, with a latest start date of 31 May 2027.