New report explores quantum’s vast potential in healthcare
A new report from Innovate UK shines a light on the vast and potentially revolutionary applications of quantum technologies for the healthcare and life sciences industry.
How UK life sciences and healthcare can benefit from quantum technologies
The Quantum for Life report compiles a list of UK or UK-partnered quantum projects specifically designed to accelerate the discovery and delivery process, from those in development through to those coming to market.
Key highlights of the report show:
- How quantum sensors could help with the identification of breast cancer, detect traces of various cancers within the blood, enhance glucose monitoring and X-Ray imaging, and improve epilepsy monitoring.
- The role quantum computing can play in designing new drugs through to streamlining the patient experience, and many applications in between.
- How quantum networking could drastically boost the security of storing and managing patient data, while allowing for the use of such data in critical research.
Matthew Wasley, Head of Emerging and Enabling Technologies at Innovate UK Business Connect said:
This is an exciting time for Quantum. 2024 marks ten years since the launch of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, and next year is the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Since 2018, Innovate UK has invested over £14 million in quantum projects specifically for healthcare and life science applications, and the result has been incredible. There are now countless projects that could drastically impact healthcare delivery, from those in initial R&D, to those already in early commercialisation.
“We’ve put together this report to give healthcare professionals and those working in life sciences an understanding of what quantum technologies can do now, and what they will be capable of in the near future. It divides these technologies into two categories; quantum enhanced technologies, which improve upon current approaches, and transformative quantum technologies, providing a completely new paradigm.
Innovate UK has invested £220 million in quantum projects since 2018 and helps run the annual UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase, which returns on Friday 8th November.
For more information, download the full Quantum for Life report.
