UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase

Last Friday 7th November, the IQN Hub joined leading innovators and researchers at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase in London’s Business Design Centre. Hosted by Innovate UK, the event welcomed over 3000 visitors keen to explore the latest breakthroughs in quantum science and technology. Our IQN team had an extremely positive and busy day, connecting with companies, investors and other academics, sharing their work on cutting-edge quantum innovations. 

Throughout the day, we welcomed hundreds of visitors to our stand, showcasing demonstrations of the science and technology behind all six of our research themes: 

  • Quantum memories 
  • Dynamic networking and entanglement distribution 
  • Quantum communications in space 
  • Quantum components 
  • Quantum protocols and networking theory 
  • Quantum-safe secure communication & standards 

Our Director, Gerald Buller took part in an extremely popular session in the morning to discuss the UK’s five Quantum Technology Hubs – highlighting their new capabilities and how they will deliver societal impact and economic growth for the UK.   

He discussed how the development of new quantum memories and interconnects through the IQN Hub will allow the distribution of entanglement across long distances, supporting the development of next-generation quantum information networks. This will integrate many of the Hub’s other hardware outputs and will be designed to be compatible with existing telecommunication/data infrastructure to facilitate widespread national-scale deployment.  

The IQN Hub’s co-investigator, Christopher Chunnilall from the National Physical Laboratory, then joined industry representatives for a wide-ranging panel session that covered topics such as nurturing commercialisation and how to encourage the next generation of quantum researchers.   

A key driver of each Hub’s success is its collaboration with a wide range of leading industry partners; we were delighted to meet many of the IQN Hub’s on the day to discuss how we can continue to deliver real impact together. 

IQN researcher awarded IET Achievement Medal!

🎉 Congratulations to our researcher and co-investigator Stefano Pirandola PhD who has been awarded an IET Achievement Medal in Quantum Technology. The IET medals are awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of science, engineering or technology.

Prof Pirandola from the University of York was awarded the medal for establishing the ultimate communication rates for quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation, and entanglement distribution.

His groundbreaking work has set the theoretical limits for secure quantum communication and made a critical contribution to building the next generation of quantum networks.

SAVE THE DATE! Workshop on Critical Technologies Supply Chain

The IQN Hub is sponsoring a specialist workshop on Critical Technologies Supply Chain this autumn. Taking place over two days (20-21 October) at the Advanced Research Centre in Glasgow, the event is being organised by the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation & Timing (QEPNT Hub), led by the University of Glasgow.  Aimed at technology suppliers, policy makers, academics, researchers, and investors, this invite-only workshop will explore the future of quantum and nanoelectronics supply chains through discussion of relevant themes, including :

  • Market trends, risks, and investment partnerships
  • Barriers to supply chain engagement and growth
  • The UK’s position in the global quantum and nanotech race, with a particular focus on Scotland’s critical technologies sector 
  • Role of government and policy makers 

Keynote speakers include Sir Peter Knight, Chair of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board; Professor Chris Pearce, Vice Principal ((Research & Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Glasgow; and Alan Anderson, Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Scottish Critical Technologies Supercluster and Senior Director of R&D at Optos plc. The IQN Hub will be represented by Adrian Wonfor, senior research associate at the University of Cambridge, and Dr Jamie Cameron, Hub Business Development Manager.

To contact the organisers with a view to attend the event, visit the workshop website.

For decorative purposes only, includes photo of Gilles Brassard and text regarding the event stated in the post

Gilles Brassard: A Celebration of Quantum Theory!

2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), and to mark this special anniversary this autumn, Professor Gilles Brassard FRS – one of the pioneering figures of quantum information science – will be delivering this year’s Québec Annual Lecture in London. He will be joined by Sir Peter Knight FRS, Chair of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board and Co-Chair of the IYQ Steering Committee; Sandu Popescu FRS; and John Rarity FRS, three of the most influential voices in modern quantum science. 

This special evening will take place on Thursday 23rd October 2025 from 6pm at the Royal Society in London. There are a limited number of tickets available so please register here (registration closes on 26th September).

Image is a photo of a previous Showcase, showing great attendance and lots of stalls for people to visit

SAVE THE DATE! The UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2025

As we are approaching the end of the International Year of Quantum, it is fitting that this year’s UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase, the flagship event for the country’s quantum community, is returning bigger and better than ever before – and our Integrated Quantum Networks Hub teams are planning to be a part of it!

As the biggest quantum event nationwide and one of the biggest of its kind globally, the Showcase offers unrivalled insight into the latest research and market-ready technology applications; valuable networking opportunities with thought leaders, innovators, and potential collaborators; high-impact engagement with stakeholders from the UK national quantum technologies programme and global delegations; and a powerful platform to explore investment, partnerships, and commercialisation opportunities.

On Friday 7th November 2025, we will be joining over 100 other exhibitors at the Business Design Centre in London, collectively showcasing technologies that span quantum hardware, software, infrastructure, communications, computing, sensing, imaging, timing, and positioning and navigation applications. The Showcase is a great opportunity to see live demonstrations, to network, to get expert and industry insights, and much more. Registration is free but capacity is limited, so if interested in attending, please make sure to register early.

Full information on this event including how to register can be found here.

Photograph showing three white men in front of a optical ground station facility.

IQN Hub Hosts Visit from the British High Commission in New Zealand

The IQN Hub was delighted to recently host James Araci, Lead Adviser for Science and Innovation at the British High Commission in New Zealand. As part of a larger visit to the UK, James met with our Director, Prof. Gerald Buller, at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh to explore deepening R&D collaboration in quantum communications between the UK and New Zealand.

This included a tour of the Hub’s new Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), our new state-of-the-art facility for quantum satellite communications, and discussions with Hub co-investigator Dr Ross Donaldson on how the UK and New Zealand can look to support each other’s ambitions in this area.

New Zealand is building significant new capability in this sector through development of their own optical ground station at the University of Auckland’s Taiaho Observatory and their wider participation in the Australasian Optical Ground Station Network (AOGSN). Strengthening collaboration could generate significant benefits for the quantum ecosystems of both countries, giving the UK access to unique southern-sky test environments while New Zealand would benefit from access to the UK’s mature quantum networks and strong industrial base. James visit was a timely and exciting opportunity to explore co-development of a global, north-south quantum-secure communications network which could enhance the resilience, reach and international leadership of both countries.

We are participating in NEWTON-Q!

We are excited to announce that we are participating in this year’s NEWTON-Q Workshop, the annual Newcastle Post-Quantum Security and Quantum Technology Workshop, taking place on 11-12 September at the University of Newcastle!

During the two-day event, IQN Hub Business Manager, Dr Jamie Cameron, and Senior Researcher Dr Joseph Ho will be delivering talks on the Hub strategy for engagement with industry and work on dynamic quantum networks, respectively. The NEWTON-Q workshop fosters meaningful engagement between academia and industry, with a strong emphasis on building connections that lead to collaborative research, commercial partnerships, internships and employment opportunities for students. This is the third instalment in what is an annual event aimed at researchers, engineers, cybersecurity experts and students to explore current developments in:

  • Quantum communication and quantum key distribution
  • Quantum computing and algorithm design
  • Post-quantum cryptography
  • Network security in a quantum-enabled world
  • Industry innovation and emerging technologies

To find out more about this year’s line-up, visit the workshop website. The NEWTON-Q Workshop is free to attend and open to all, with a particular welcome to early career researchers and students.

For decoration only. Banner showing the EU Quantum Flagship programme logo.

IQN Hub researchers appointed as the UK representatives on EU Quantum Flagship governance committee

We are delighted to announce that two of our senior Integrated Quantum Networks Hub investigators, our Director, Professor Gerald Buller from Heriot-Watt University, and quantum computing expert, Professor Elham Kashefi from the University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab (part of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre) have recently been appointed as the UK’s representatives on the EU Quantum Flagship programme’s Quantum Community Network (or QCN).

The Quantum Flagship is EU’s large-scale research and innovation initiative, aiming to expand Europe’s scientific expertise in this area, support the growth of a competitive quantum economy and make Europe an attractive investment region for innovative research and business in this sector. The Flagship’s Quantum Community Network is one of the main governance structures of the programme, representing the quantum technologies communities of EU member and associate states. All representatives are distinguished experts from each country with the remit of sharing information on best practice on quantum-related activities; helping to coordinate the interaction between the Flagship and national initiatives; and assisting in the promotion of gender equality in the sector.

To find out more information about the network and the EU Flagship more generally, visit the Flagship website at https://qt.eu/structure-governance/quantum-community-network

For decoration only. Abstract image, courtesy of Professor Mehul Malik at Heriot-Watt University. The image is a graphic representation of two photons that are bound together against a backdrop of light. At the bottom of the image there is a banner with practical information about the event, including the title, date and venue.

SAVE THE DATE! “Music for a Quantum Landscape” outreach event

Our Integrated Quantum Networks Hub colleague, quantum physicist and pianist Professor Erika Andersson from Heriot-Watt University will be taking part at this year’s International Orkney Science festival. Joined by Orkney-based accordionist Karen Tweed, Erika will put on a special performance of music inspired by quantum physics, followed by a Q&A session and discussion. The event is part of this year’s International Orkney Science Festival, taking place across various venues on the island during 4-10 September. This particular performance is scheduled for September 9th, from 9pm to 10pm at The Orkney Club, Harbour Street, Kirkwall. Tickets are priced at £10 and can be booked via the festival website: https://oisf.org/

Quantum networking specialists Welinq join the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub

The UK’s Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub is delighted to announce today that it will be partnering with the quantum networking innovators Welinq. As part of the new partnership, Welinq will be welcomed into a £20m+ R&D initiative which connects academia, government and industry to advance new quantum networking and communications technologies. Joining a collaboration of 15 leading British Universities and National Laboratories, plus nearly 50 other companies from across the telecommunications, quantum technology, cybersecurity, digital services and space sectors, Welinq will contribute its world-leading expertise in quantum memories and networking solutions to the Hub’s research programme.

The new partnership will deepen collaboration between Welinq and the UK’s leading quantum networking researchers on building and demonstrating the technologies required to enable both scalable quantum computing and long-distance secure quantum communications. New fundamental developments in quantum memory technologies, optical quantum interconnects, and entanglement routing will be critical on the path to both fault-tolerant, distributed quantum computing – unlocking the monumental untapped power of quantum processing to solve problems classical supercomputers simply cannot – and the widespread implementation of a global quantum communications infrastructure, i.e. a new “quantum internet”.

The Integrated Quantum Networks Hub is one of five flagship quantum technology Hubs announced under the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP), a £2.5 billion investment over the next 10 years aiming to position the UK as a world-leading quantum-enabled economy by 2035.

Prof. Gerald Buller, IQN Hub Director said “We are thrilled to welcome Welinq as a new partner in the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub. Working closely with pioneering industrial partners like Welinq is essential to support the growth of a robust quantum ecosystem and ensure that the Hub delivers on its ambitious research goals. Developing high-performance quantum memories and embedding them into quantum information networks at all scales, ranging from individual datacentres to international communication infrastructure, is a huge part of our mission. Welinq’s expertise in this area brings huge strengths to our programme and we are very excited to see what we can deliver together through this new partnership.”

Dr. Tom Darras, Welinq CEO said “We’re excited to join the IQN Hub and contribute to a strong European effort advancing quantum networking. Our world-record quantum networking products will support the development of quantum-augmented data centers and the scalable infrastructure needed for distributed quantum computing, and we’re proud to bring them to this outstanding community.”

 

About Welinq

Welinq is a Paris-based pioneering quantum networking company developing hardware and software solutions for scalable quantum computing. A spin-out from Sorbonne Université, CNRS, and PSL-University, Welinq was founded in 2022 by Tom Darras, Julien Laurat, and Eleni Diamanti. Learn more about Welinq at www.welinq.eu

Integrated Quantum Networks Hub

Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh, EH14 4AS
United Kingdom

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