The British government has earmarked over £14 million for a range of quantum-based projects aimed at developing “next-generation” sensors for the healthcare, transport and defence sectors.

These projects include a new type of portable eye scanner that could replace the large and expensive version currently used in hospitals, as well as a new type of sensor that would let civil engineers detect buried structures without the need for excavation works.

The funding will be divided across 14 projects through Innovate UK’s Quantum Sensing Mission Primer.

The government said that some of the companies being supported through the funding are “brilliant examples” of UK tech spinouts, such as Cerca Magnetics which was founded off the back of research at the University of Nottingham.

The government says that it has invested £121 million into quantum over this financial year, with estimates suggesting that by 2045 quantum could contribute £11 billion to UK GDP and over 100,000 jobs.

“Quantum technologies are changing the world – from ultra-sensitive sensors to help diagnose diseases through to the potential of a new type of computer that can do things in seconds that would take today’s computers decades to compute,” said science minister Lord Vallance. “The UK already has considerable strengths and lots of exciting new companies have sprung up in the UK.

“The funding and agreements being announced today aim to support this exciting and important growth area right across the country.”

Earlier this week, the government launched the National Metrology Institute – Quantum (NMI-Q) at the National Physical Laboratory.

NMI-Q is a partnership for quantum R&D across the G7 countries plus Australia, which the UK will co-chair with the US in its inaugural term.

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