SAVE THE DATE! Workshop on Critical Technologies Supply Chain

30 September, 2025

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!

22 September, 2025

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

16 September, 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

15 September, 2025

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!

12 September, 2025

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.

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

22 August, 2025

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

22 August, 2025

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

29 July, 2025

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

Abstract global network image - for decoration only

Colt joins the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub fold!

11 July, 2025

The UK’s Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub announces today that it will be partnering with Colt Technology Services (Colt), the global digital infrastructure company. The IQN Hub is a £20m+ R&D initiative which connects academia, government and industry to advance quantum-secure 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, Colt will contribute its leading expertise in global digital infrastructure and connectivity services to the Hub’s research programme.

The new partnership will deepen collaboration between Colt and the UK’s leading quantum communications researchers on addressing the security and networking challenges posed by a post-quantum future. The fast-approaching realisation of a functional, fault-tolerant quantum computer will dramatically alter the global cybersecurity landscape, essentially rendering classical cryptographic security methods obsolete. This partnership will focus on building and demonstrating new and cutting-edge quantum-secure communications methods which can be deployed, at scale, throughout existing networks. This will support the ‘defence-in-depth’ strategy adopted by Colt as part of their journey towards providing fully quantum-safe data services across their global network.

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 Colt as a new partner in the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub. Working closely with industry is essential if the Hub is to achieve its ambitious plans to establish a world-leading quantum network infrastructure here in the UK. Colt’s global infrastructure base, exceptional expertise in optical networks, and commitment to becoming an industry leader in quantum-secure communications all bring huge strengths to our programme. We are very excited to see what we can deliver together through this new partnership.”

Buddy Bayer, Chief Operating Officer, Colt Technology Services said, “Collaboration is critical for the UK is to fulfil its ambition of becoming a quantum-enabled economy in the near future. The IQN Hub is a launchpad for this goal, bringing together industry, government, and academia to share the talent, tools, and insights that will fast-track innovation and secure the UK’s position as a quantum leader on the global stage. We’re excited to be part of the IQN Hub and look forward to working together to accelerate progress”.

About Colt Technology Services

Colt Technology Services (Colt) is a global digital infrastructure company which creates extraordinary connections to help businesses succeed. Powered by amazing people and like-minded partners, Colt is driven by its purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of its customers, wherever, whenever and however they choose.

Since 1992, Colt has set itself apart through its deep commitment to its customers, growing from its heritage in the City of London to a global business spanning 40+ countries, with over 6,000 employees and more than 80 offices around the world. Colt’s customers benefit from expansive digital infrastructure connecting 32,000 buildings across 230 cities, more than 50 Metropolitan Area Networks and 275+ Points of Presence across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America’s largest business hubs.

Privately owned, Colt is one of the most financially sound companies in the sector. Obsessed with delivering industry-leading customer experience, Colt is guided by its dedication to customer innovation, by its values and its responsibility to its customers, partners, people and the planet.

Connect with Colt on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

For more information, please visit www.colt.net

Image of a white, middle aged bald man in a science lab

NQCC Strategic Advisory Committee appointment for IQN Hub Director Buller

10 July, 2025

Congratulations to Heriot-Watt University’s Professor Gerald Buller, Director of the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, on his recent appointment to the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) of the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC).

The NQCC is the UK’s National Laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development of quantum computers and helping to realise their immense potential to realise new advances in healthcare, energy, climate modelling and the development of new materials. Funded through UKRI via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the NQCC works closely with academics, government representatives and industry to support the growth of this emerging sector and help make the UK the world’s first quantum-ready economy.

The Centre’s Strategic Advisory Committee will play a key role in realising this mission, helping shape the NQCC’s future direction and ensure its long-term success.

Professor Buller joins an esteemed panel of experts in this area, including the Committee Chair, fellow IQN investigator, Professor Ian Walmsley, recently confirmed as the lead of Oxford’s Quantum Institute; Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director of the NQCC; Mr Jonathan Legh-Smith, Executive Director for UKQuantum, a membership organisation representing the UK’s quantum industry; Professor Dominic O’Brien, Director of the national technology Hub in quantum computing (QCi3); Professor Julia Sutcliffe from the UK Government’s Department of Business and Trade; Mr Simon Andrews, Executive Director of Fraunhofer UK Reseach; and Dr Angeli Mőller from tech strategy and business innovation company Zühlke.

Professor Buller’s expertise in quantum communications and networking technology is reflected in his leadership of the £22M EPSRC-funded national Hub in integrated quantum networking technologies (IQN Hub), funding for which was announced last summer. The IQN Hub is a major UK-wide collaboration of 13 Universities, 2 national laboratories and over 50 industry partners. It is working to enable a secure quantum networking infrastructure at all distance scales, ranging from localised quantum computing networks through to satellite-based intercontinental communications all the way to establishment of a secure quantum “internet”.

Full details on the newly formed NQCC Strategic Advisory Committee can be found at Strategic Advisory Committee – NQCC