Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer

The aim of the competition is to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors (QS) and quantum position, navigation, and timing (QPNT) products and services. These will prime the National Quantum Strategy Missions 3, 4, and 5. Examples include sensing-enabled solutions for healthcare, navigation systems, and clocks, and sensors for critical national infrastructure in the transport, telecoms, energy, and defence sectors.

This is phase one of a potential two-phase competition.

Your phase one project must deliver:

1. A Product Maturity Plan that includes plans or roadmaps describing your future product development activities, investment needs, and how they address your intended market.
2. A Product Performance Report that shows the results of a test, a demonstration, modelling, or a trial from which you derive your confidence in being able to meet the technical requirements of your chosen market.

The above deliverables will be used to evaluate the performance of your phase one project. Based on performance in phase one and the availability of budget, you may be invited to apply to a separate phase-two competition. We expect that you will enact some or all the development activities in your Product Maturity Plan, if you are selected for a phase two project.

Your product or service must use second-generation quantum technologies, or your product roadmap must include a plan for the incorporation of second-generation quantum technologies.

Your project must:

• Be fundamentally about the development of an innovative product or service
• Demonstrate the status of the technology
• Outline future plans for developing the maturity of the product or service, which are founded on a mature product concept and market knowledge.
• Identify technical, commercial, and regulatory barriers to adoption.

You must define your goals in your application and outline your plan for phase.

You must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results.

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

• Quantum sensors (QS)
• Quantum position, navigation, and timing (QPNT)