The winning bids for funding from the UK Quantum Technologies Innovation Fund will be announced today, Thursday November 3rd, to delegates attending an international Quantum Technologies Showcase, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, in London.
Representatives from around the world will discover which companies working with academics in the field of quantum technologies have been successful applying to the Fund – a joint investment by the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) . The projects will link academia and industry to research and translate quantum technologies into new products and services.
The conference will hear how the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme (UKNQTP) is continuing to draw the country's research base together with industry, research funding bodies and other government agencies to build a new high tech industry in the UK.
The Showcase event will also demonstrate the progress being made by the UKNQTP, including work carried out by the UK's four Quantum Technologies Hubs, UK companies, the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
There will be over 30 live demonstrations on show, which harness the power of quantum effects and using this to advance technologies in measurement, security, computing, imaging and sensing, in what has become known as the second quantum revolution.
Dr Ruth McKernan, Chief Executive of Innovate UK, said: "Quantum technology has the potential to be a global game-changer. The UK is at the forefront of this and Innovate UK and its partner EPSRC, are there to give vital support to UK companies as they take the opportunities offered by this fascinating and exciting new sector."
Two world-leading quantum companies, ID Quantique and QxBranch, will also be announcing the opening of UK offices in order to become closer to the UK quantum programme.
Exhibits will demonstrate the development of 3D cameras; low-cost quantum keys for encryption; gas detectors that can image invisible gases, together with quantum magnetometers that will enable higher imaging resolutions and the ability to image deeper areas of the brain.
Professor Philip Nelson, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which funds the Hubs and other parts of the programme said: "This year's showcase will give researchers an opportunity to demonstrate how their work is progressing and is an open door to potential partners to get involved. The joint investment by Innovate UK and EPSRC, announced today, will allow us to accelerate the application and exploitation of these technologies and keep the UK at the leading edge of this exciting field."
The event has been organised to mark the second anniversary of the UK National Quantum Technology Hubs which were set up in November 2014. The Hubs have been formed by a consortium of 17 universities led by the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford and York, funded by EPSRC.
Professor David Delpy, Chair of the UKNQTP, said: "This second showcase event demonstrates the progress we have made with the number of exhibits increasing from 11 to 39 and industry partners being more clearly visible throughout both the speaker programme and exhibition."
Details of the winners are set out in the table below.
| Sector | Project title | Company | Other partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Quantum Entanglement Tomography for enhanced medical imaging | Kromek Ltd | University of Edinburgh |
| Healthcare | Quantum Algorithms for Cognitive Healthcare | Siemens Healthcare UK | University College London |
| Construction/geosurvey | Reveal – Quantum Gravity Sensor for Civil Engineering | e2v technologies (UK) Ltd | Gooch and Housego, RSK, University of Birmingham, Dstl |
| Construction/geosurvey | QGMS: Quantum Geonium Mass Sensor. A route to market feasibility | Polestar Engineering Ltd | Oxford Instruments Nanoscience, Royal Holloway |
| Construction/geosurvey | Qvision – A hybrid QT system for visualisation of buried utility assets | Oxford Electromagnetic Solutions Limited | University of Birmingham |
| Space | REMOTE – (RuggEd Mirco-ECDL technology for cOld aTom applications in spacE) | Optocap Ltd | Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics; University of Strathcylde |
| Space | Cold Atom Space Payload (CASPA) | e2v technologies (UK) Ltd | G&H, ClydeSpace, XCAM, Covesion, University of Birmingham, University of Southampton |
| Finance | Commericalisation of Quantum Algorithms for Market Making | QxBranch | UBS |
| Timing | MINAC Miniature Atomic Clock | e2v technologies (UK) Ltd | National Physical Laboratory |
| Timing | SCORPIO: Strontium COld atom package foR commercial oPtIcal clOcks | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Birmingham |
| Sensors | QUARTZ: QUAntum TeraheRTZ Detector using Rydberg Atoms | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Durham |
| Imaging | Gas Sight- quantum technologies for gas imaging | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Glasgow |
| Components | QuDOS II: Quantum technologies using Diffractive Optical Structures (Phase II) | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Strathclyde |
| Components | AXEL: Alexandrite Ring Cavity Lasers for Commercial Quantum Technology | M Squared Lasers Ltd | Imperial College London |
| Components | ALTITUDE: Advanced Low-cost TI:sapphire Lasers for Quantum Technologies | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Durham |
| Components | POLARIS: high POwer, phase-locked LAseRs for atom InterferometerS | M Squared Lasers Ltd | Imperial College London |
| Components | High-Power Unique-Stability Laser Source For Quantum Applications | Coherent Scotland Ltd | University College London |
| Components | Compact lightweight high performance magnetic shielding enabling portable & miniaturised quantum technology systems – "QT-Shield" | Magnetic Shields Limited | University of Birmingham |
| Components | GaSb/GaAs quantum ring single photon LEDs (QR_SPLEDs) | Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd | University of Lancaster |
| Components | FLAME – Frequency-stabilised LAser Modules with integrated reference cEll | Optocap Ltd | Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics |
| Components | PICAS: Photonically Integrated Cold Atom Source | ColdQuanta UK, Ltd. | M squared lasers |
| Components | Quantum Cooling using Mode Controlled Blue Lasers (CoolBlue) | Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd | University of Glasgow |
| Components | cCAS: compact Cold Atom Sources | M Squared Lasers Ltd | University of Oxford |
| Components | Novel compact narrow linewidth laser for gravimetric and quantum applications | RedWave Labs Ltd | Science and Technology Facilities Council's RAL Space |
| Components | MagGaNet: Magnesium-clock frequency-stabilised GaN-diode lasers | TopGaN Quantum Technologies Ltd | Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics |
| Components | Praseodymium Laser Architecture Investigation and Demonstrator (PLAID) | UniKLasers Ltd | Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, University of Birmingham |
| Components | DIFFRACT- Integrated Distributed Feedback Lasers for Cold Atom Technologies | M Squared Lasers Ltd | Optocap, Kelvin Nanotechnology, University of Birmingham, University of Glasgow |
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For further information please contact the EPSRC Press Office on 01793 444 404 or email [email protected]
Images from the showcase will be available shortly afterwards on request.
Notes for Editors:
1. The UK National Quantum Technologies Programme (UKNQTP) aims to ensure the successful transition of quantum technologies from laboratory to industry. The programme is delivered by EPSRC, Innovate UK, BEIS, NPL, GCHQ, DSTL and the KTN. For more information, visit http://uknqt.epsrc.ac.uk/.
2. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
As the main funding agency for engineering and physical sciences research, our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world to Research, Discover and Innovate.
By investing £800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, we are building the knowledge and skills base needed to address the scientific and technological challenges facing the nation. Our portfolio covers a vast range of fields from healthcare technologies to structural engineering, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry. The research we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture.
We work collectively with our partners and other Research Councils on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. http://www.epsrc.ac.uk
3. Innovate UK
Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency. We are business focused and drive disruptive innovation right across the UK economy, funding and connecting pioneering businesses so they can create the products, processes and industries of the future. It is our mission to boost productivity, increase exports and help the UK economy grow head and shoulders above other nations. For further information and to stay updated on our latest news visit http://www.gov.uk/innovateuk, follow us on Twitter at @innovateuk or subscribe to our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/InnovateUK.
4. The Four Hubs
The University of Birmingham (led by Professor Kai Bongs) – UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology
Quantum Sensors and Metrology will dramatically improve the accuracy of measurement of time, frequency, rotation, magnetic fields, gravity and other key fundamental measures, which will have impact across a wide range of fields, from electronic stock trading to GPS navigation. They will deliver unprecedented views into the brain for dementia research and into the ground allowing reduced roadworks, detecting sinkholes and finding archaeological treasures.
The Birmingham-led hub will partner with academics at the universities of Southampton, Strathclyde, Sussex, Nottingham and Glasgow and aims to build a supply chain for quantum sensor technology, build a series of quantum sensor and metrology prototype devices and develop the market and links between academia and industry.
The University of Glasgow (led by Professor Miles Padgett) – QuantIC (Quantum Enhanced Imaging / Sensing)
QuantIC will develop new types of camera with unprecedented sensitivity and the capacity to time the arrival of the detected light. These cameras will open up new markets in medical imaging; security and environmental monitoring; and manufacturing of high value materials. Quantum cameras will be able to visualise gas leaks, see clearly through smoke, look round corners or underneath the skin. Quantum sensors developed by the Hub will detect single contaminant molecules and detect electromagnetic and gravitational fields with exceptional sensitivity.
The University of Glasgow-led hub will partner with academics from the universities of Bristol, Edinburgh, Oxford, Strathclyde, and Heriot-Watt University.
The University of Oxford (led by Professor Ian Walmsley) – Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) (Quantum Computing/Simulation)
Quantum information processing will enable users to solve problems that even the most powerful of today's supercomputers struggle with. They will accelerate the discovery of new drugs or materials by simulating different molecular designs using programmable software, thus dramatically reducing the laborious trial and error of making each molecule in the laboratory.
Another application is making sense of 'big data', the immense torrent of information about economics, climate, and health that can help us make better predictions of future trends.
The Oxford-led hub will partner with academics from the universities of Bath, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Leeds, Southampton, Strathclyde, Sussex and Warwick, as well as dozens of national and international companies. The website is http://nqit.ox.ac.uk
The University of York (led by Professor Tim Spiller) – Quantum Communications Hub
Quantum Communications can transform the security of data and transactions across multiple sectors and users, ranging from government and industry to commerce and consumers.
The York-led hub is aiming for breakthroughs that will lead to widespread and affordable use of the technology. These include: chip-scale integration based on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), thus reducing the size and manufacturing costs of equipment; building a UK Quantum network for the demonstration and testing of new equipment and services – providing early access to advanced technologies for industry, business clusters and communities of users.
The Hub partnership includes leading researchers from the universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Heriot-Watt, Leeds, Royal Holloway, Sheffield, Strathclyde and York, collaborating with world-class researchers working in the labs of industrial partners.
Several companies and organisations are formally involved in one or more of the Hubs these include: BT, Toshiba, e2v, M Squared Lasers, Dstl, AWE, NPL, Thales, Coherent Lasers, BP, Compound Semiconductor, GCHQ, Selex, Oxford Instruments, and Kelvin Nanotechnology.
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