£51M NATIONAL CRYOGENIC FACILITY TO POSITION NORTH WEST AS GLOBAL QUANTUM POWERHOUSE

Sci-Tech Daresbury will play an even greater role in the UK’s quantum future, following confirmation of a £51 million government investment in a new National Cryogenic Facility (NCF) at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory.

Described as potentially the first open‑access cryogenic user facility of its kind, this landmark facility will enable ultra‑low temperature testing; a key requirement for scaling  next‑generation quantum technologies. The NCF will operate at temperatures close to absolute zero, providing large‑scale liquid helium cooling infrastructure that industry says is essential for advancing quantum systems.

This latest investment into Sci-Tech Daresbury further strengthens the Liverpool City Region and wider North West as one of the UK’s most dynamic science and technology clusters. It follows growing demand from global quantum firms, including Silicon Valley‑based PsiQuantum, who have an advanced R&D facility Daresbury Laboratory.

Driving UK leadership in transformative technologies

While quantum computing is the facility’s immediate focus, its impact will reach far beyond. The NCF will enable breakthroughs across sectors already planning to make use of its capabilities, from fusion energy and hydrogen aviation to advanced healthcare technologies including MRI innovation.

Potential applications include:

• Developing and testing superconducting magnets for fusion energy
• Advancing materials essential for next‑generation MRI systems
• Supporting the emergence of hydrogen‑powered flight and green aviation

These advances could accelerate the discovery of new medicines, enable cleaner energy technologies, and contribute to stronger long-term energy security.

A defining step for the region

Paul Vernon, Head of STFC Daresbury Laboratory, said the investment marks a step-change for the campus and the region:

“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.

The NCF will be the first national facility established at Daresbury since the closure of the Synchrotron Radiation Source in 2008, further reinforcing the site’s role as a home for nationally significant infrastructure.

Massimo Noro, Director of Business Development at STFC, added:

“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.”

Supporting a growing quantum cluster

The new investment will also help accelerate the growth of the region’s existing quantum businesses, strengthening the North West’s position as a leading UK hub for the industrialisation of quantum technologies.

Companies including PsiQuantum, Quantum Design Oxford, Quantinuum, Amentum and Quantum Exponential have all welcomed the announcement, citing the NCF as critical infrastructure for scaling the nation’s quantum ambitions.

Image: Daresbury Lab, Courtesy of STFC