WARRINGTON and the North West are set to become a global centre for quantum technology, following a £51 million government investment in a new National Cryogenic Facility (NCF) at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory.
The facility will provide the ultra-cold environments needed to test next-generation quantum technologies, working at temperatures close to absolute zero (-271°C).
These capabilities have already proven their value, recently attracting Silicon Valley-based PsiQuantum to Daresbury Laboratory.
The NCF will now give UK companies the cryogenics infrastructure they need to scale quantum systems, something industry says depends on access to large-scale liquid helium cooling.
While quantum computing is the first priority, the impact goes far beyond. Industries including healthcare, green aviation, and fusion energy are already planning to use the facility.
Potential applications include:
• Advancing fusion energy through testing of superconducting magnets
• Improving MRI systems through advanced materials testing
• Supporting the development of hydrogen-powered flight
The benefits are far-reaching. Quantum computing could accelerate the discovery of new medicines and cleaner energy technologies. Advances in fusion could strengthen energy security, lower costs, and drive economic growth.
Paul Vernon, head of STFC Daresbury Laboratory, said: “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 National Cryogenic Facility 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, said: “The National Cryogenic Facility 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.”
