First ever UK-Germany tech corridor unlocks investment, jobs and opportunity for British business

New Industrial Tech Corridor will help companies in both countries to strike partnerships that drive investment, new jobs and adoption of cutting-edge technologies

• Companies at home and in Germany will be supported to open up new partnerships - backed by leading German firms Allianz, Bosch, and Siemens.
• €20 million pot to see both countries teaming up on Quantum research - one of the defining technologies of our generation.
• New agreements to help build deeper partnership on defence and economic growth as Prime Minister touches down in Berlin.

British tech companies will be able to strike new deals which boost their bottom line, while communities are set to benefit from future, high-skilled jobs as part of a new tech agreement with Germany.

The deal comes as the Prime Minister visits Berlin today (Thursday 8th October), with both countries agreeing to open a new ‘Industrial Tech Corridor’. At its heart, will be a drive to help companies on both sides of the North Sea strike partnerships with one another – driving investment, new jobs, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like AI to boost productivity. 

A flagship initiative under the Kensington Treaty - the UK-German bilateral friendship agreement - it’s being backed by some of Germany’s leading companies including Allianz, Bosch, RWE and Siemens. Building on the UK’s and Germany’s Strategic Science and Technology Partnership, it will connect industry leaders, tech companies and innovators from both countries - unlocking new ways for them to to work together and to harness the opportunities of AI and critical technologies.

When fully up and running, it will connect high-growth technology companies with major industrial partners and investors, helping them win new business and realise their scale-up ambitions.

Deepening the UK-Germany tech partnership further, both countries will also share a pot of some €20 (£17m) million to help accelerate joint research on Quantum – one of the defining technologies of the future.

Quantum computing is one of our most important drivers of growth, with the potential to add more than £200 billion and some 100,000 jobs to the UK economy by 2045. Today’s funding announcement also follows in the wake of the UK committing earlier this year to be the first country in the world to build large-scale Quantum computers on our shores by the early 2030s.

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, said:

"Today’s agreements are great news for British tech, businesses, and workers. They mean more jobs, more investment, and more innovations that will change lives.

"We already work closely with Germany in key areas like AI and Quantum, and today lays a new foundation - combining the strengths of our businesses and innovators so people in both countries will benefit from for years to come."

This shared pot of Quantum funding will support projects in a range of areas – from quantum computing through to the technology’s use in financial services. It could also mean cutting-edge breakthroughs in areas like Quantum sensors - already transforming our understanding of conditions like epilepsy and dementia.

The partnership will help encourage greater adoption of the technology in both countries, helping companies scale and grow while also strengthening manufacturing and supply chains across Europe.

Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation said:

"Together with the UK, we’re building an ideal launchpad for AI companies to scale internationally.

"The UK-German Tech Corridor will accelerate scale-ups to enter Europe’s most advanced AI ecosystems. This partnership represents an important step to strengthening our digital sovereignty."

Some of Germany’s and the UK’s biggest companies are already capitalising on the new agreements announced today. 

Germany-based tech firm MicroAGI – a robotics research company headquartered in Munich – will expand their footprint in London, creating 180 new, high-paid jobs. Energy company Proxima Fusion will also expand their base in Culham, with the potential to quadruple their workforce at the site by 2028.

Quantexa meanwhile - the UK-based AI software company – is also committing to building a dedicated sovereign unit in Germany which will support the technology’s deployment in both countries.

As our second largest trading partner, Germany already contributes some £155 billion to the UK economy.

Last month, the UK and Germany also launched a joint funding call worth £2.4 million to support innovative R&D projects. Focusing on clean energy, life sciences and engineering biology, it will see research teams from both countries partnering up to bid for up to £350,000, developing new ideas which could then lead to new products and services than benefit hardworking people.

Today’s announcements will now provide a platform to capitalise on our shared expertise in science, innovation, and technology to deliver further growth and improve the lives of people in both countries.

From: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP