Our Quantum Experimentation Group (QEG) will explore quantum computing applications in financial services. Find out about the group's aims and how you can participate.
The initiative, which is now open for expressions of interest, will launch in Q1 2027.
We’re inviting firms, quantum computing providers, and research labs to participate in the QEG. Please register your interest in taking part by 31 December 2026.
The initiative aims to help firms understand where quantum computing might offer benefits over existing classical computing approaches. Through participant-led experimentation, the QEG will explore applications, build capability, and generate evidence on common regulatory challenges, with a focus on detecting financial crime for the initial use case.
Why we’re focusing on quantum experimentation
Protecting consumers and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system are central to the FCA’s regulatory objectives. As quantum computing develops, we want to better understand the challenges facing firms in effective deployment, and how the emerging technology can serve those objectives.
Financial services firms are approaching quantum computing from different starting points. Some are already investing in research, developing specialist capabilities and experimenting with quantum technologies. Others are interested in its potential but have yet to develop the expertise or resources needed to begin.
In either case, firms understand the problems they face but may not always have access to the specialist expertise needed to translate them into potential quantum applications and experiments. Suitable data also remains a practical barrier to experimentation.
We believe collaboration around common regulatory use cases, particularly those addressing challenges relevant across financial services, can help overcome some of these barriers and ultimately result in stronger protections for consumers.
What the QEG will focus on
The QEG will focus on collaborative experimentation, bringing together industry knowledge, specialist expertise, and shared resources to:
Explore quantum machine learning for financial crime detection
Use a defined financial crime problem and common synthetic dataset to enable participating firms and quantum specialists to explore and evaluate quantum approaches to anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud detection.
These are common regulatory challenges where appropriately shared, high-level learning may benefit the sector as a whole.
Develop early regulatory insights
Improve the FCA’s understanding of the barriers to experimentation, the associated opportunities and risks, and any future regulatory consideration relevant to supporting responsible quantum innovation.
Build knowledge and institutional capabilities
Support the sharing of high-level learning from the experimental process, while protecting participant-specific and commercially sensitive information, to build institutional capability and inform future experimentation and evaluation.
Provide access to a FCA synthetic dataset
Give participants a common basis for developing, testing, and evaluating quantum approaches, including comparisons against classical techniques.
Participants will remain responsible for developing and assessing their own solutions with the relevant quantum specialists.
Who should register their interest
We welcome expressions of interest from UK organisations:
- Financial services firms: From those beginning to explore quantum computing to institutions already undertaking research and experimentation.
- Quantum computing providers: Organisations seeking to apply their expertise, computing resources, and applications engineering to financial services challenges.
- Research labs: Institutions with specialist expertise that could support experiment design and evaluation.
What you’ll get from the QEG
Practical experimentation
Opportunities to explore quantum approaches to a financial services regulatory problem using a FCA synthetic dataset.
Collaboration with specialist experts
Access specialist expertise from quantum computing providers, research organisations, other financial services participants and FCA subject-matter experts through the programme’s experimental workstreams and cohort sessions.
Knowledge and capability building
Develop experience and institutional capability to support further quantum experimentation in financial services.
Evidence and shared learning
Gain insights into the performance, opportunities, and limitations of quantum approaches including through appropriately controlled high-level learning from across the programme.
The QEG will focus on early-stage experimentation and evidence generation. Participation in the QEG will not constitute FCA approval or endorsement of any participant, technology or solution or confirmation that any resulting approach meets applicable regulatory requirements.
How to register your interest
If you're a financial services firm interested in exploring quantum computing, a technology provider keen to apply your expertise to real industry challenges, or a national research organisation exploring the forefront of quantum computing, we invite you to register your interest in the QEG ahead of its launch.
Register your interest by 31 December 2026.
Registering your interest does not guarantee participation. We'll share further information about eligibility and selection process, participation arrangements and next steps as the programme develops.
Contact us
Email: [email protected]
