17.03.2026

UK Government Vow to Stop Tech Drifting Abroad

More Investment in UK Tech

The UK Government have recently announced (March 2026) a £2.5bn investment in quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI), both key to economic growth and considered next-generation technologies. There is potential for quantum computing alone to create an additional 100,000 jobs in the UK.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants top British technology firms and scientists to stay in the UK and not “drift abroad”. High-profile UK tech firms tend to move their businesses overseas, often to the US. With new and more investment Reeves aim is to increase the likelihood of the most valuable companies staying UK based. The intention is for the UK to be an active participant in the race for breakthrough technology.

It is also hoped that government investment will bring closer ties with the EU and help boost sluggish economic growth with the intention to “row back on Brexit” although closer alignment to the EU has already drawn some political criticism. Reeves argues that the UK should align in more areas of the economy with EU rules “where alignment is in the national interest, where it is good for business and good for jobs”.

Read On

To read the article as published by the BBC go to www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-tech-investment or visit BM Magazine’s news page bmmagazine.co.uk/news/rachel-reeves-uk-tech-investment-ai-quantum-growth-plan. To read the government news story report: UK will win AI race as Chancellor sets out economic ‘big choices’, go to www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-will-win-ai-race.

Want to Share?

Are you an IAP member who’s specialism is in quantum computing and/or AI? Do you work for a UK company and hence have a view on this? We’d like to hear from you. If you’re not a member already we encourage you to join of course then you could join in with one of our monthly Dev Café meetings, write a blog article or even present a webinar. Sharing your experience, information and advice with other IAP members is of real value. Email admin@iap.org.