Global Business Innovation Programme in Germany - Quantum Technology

A GBIP has three stages:

Prepare for the market

Preparing for the market includes the cohort being briefed by sector and market experts on, for example, cultural aspects of conducting business in that country. Delegates receive help to find business partners and arrange meetings and are advised on best practice including the management and protection of their intellectual property.

Visiting the market

Visiting the market provides opportunities to attend pre-arranged meetings and activities in order to better understand and maximise the opportunities that the visit presents.

Exploiting the opportunity

Exploiting the opportunity is arguably the most important aspect of the programme. To maximise the opportunity, participating companies are given bespoke one-to-one support from an Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist to help develop and implement an action plan.

The Global Business Innovation Programme operates on a competitive basis and businesses selected are required to participate in all three stages (some or all of which may be online).

To apply, you must:

• Be a CEO, founder, or senior decision maker
• Be a company established in the UK with fewer than 250 employees
• Be able to attend and complete all activities

Germany is a worldleader in science and innovation and has particular strengths in quantum technologies. The field is also a key priority for the German government, evidenced by a 3 billion € “Action Concept for Quantum Technologies”, running from 2023-2026, which aims to maintain Germany’s competitiveness in this field, and strengthen the country’s position at the top of quantum developments in the EU.

Building on its overall S&I strengths, Germany is well-positioned in all fields of quantum technology fundamental research, and supports a strong ecosystem of start-ups, SMEs and large corporates across basic technologies and components, and ambitions to build a 100+ qubit quantum computer by 2026. In quantum sensing, materials and communication, first products have already reached market maturity.

The Innovation visit includes participation at one of Germany’s leading events in Quantum, Quantum Effects | Messe Stuttgart. It is a conference and exhibition focusing on application-oriented quantum technologies with international impact. Quantum Effects is helping to design and develop a comprehensive European ecosystem for quantum technologies in close cooperation with industry, science, politics and the relevant networks and investors. It will provide a platform for innovation, inspiration and collaboration and create enthusiasm for quantum technologies.

• Quantum sensing for applications such as industrial instrumentation, clinical devices, imaging, resource mapping, geological or oceanographic survey applications.
• Industrial products, processes, or services to advance scalable solutions such as chip scale quantum, photonic and optoelectronic systems for applied quantum technologies.
• Technologies (such as qubit processor, switching, networking or control systems) for scaling quantum computers.
• Commercial quantum computing software and service offerings.

• Explore innovation opportunities in Germany in the area of quantum technology
• Get a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Germany
• Find potential innovation collaborators and partners and develop your network in the UK and globally.
• Improve your company value proposition to international partners and investors.

To learn more about the programme, watch the recording of the applicant briefing from 3 June.

Application close: 21 July 2024

Get ready workshop: 5 and 6 September 2024

Innovation visit: 6 – 11 October 2024

Exploit the opportunity workshop: 16 January 2024