University of Birmingham unveils national network of Quantum Technology Hubs

A new £120 million national network of Quantum Technology Hubs, that will explore the properties of quantum mechanics and how they can be harnessed for use in technology, has been unveiled today at the University of Birmingham.

The new network will involve 17 universities and 132 companies and will be funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) from the £270 million investment in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme announced by the Chancellor, George Osborne in his Autumn Statement of 2013.

The network will consist of four hubs which were selected after a competitive peer reviewed process. They will be led by the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford and York.

This programme will deliver a suite of research and innovation investments from a number of partners including EPSRC, Innovate UK, BIS, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), GCHQ, Dstl and the Knowledge Transfer Network.

Greg Clark, Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities said: "This exciting new Quantum Hubs network will push the boundaries of knowledge and exploit new technologies, to the benefit of healthcare, communications and security.

"This investment in Quantum technologies has the potential to bring game-changing advantages to future timing, sensing and navigation capabilities that could support multi-billion pound markets in the UK and globally.

"Today's announcement is another example of the Government's recognition of the UK's science base and its critical contribution to our sustained economic growth".

Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC's Chief Executive said: "These new Hubs will build on our previous investments in quantum science. They will draw together scientists, engineers and technologists from across the UK who will explore how we can exploit the intriguing properties of the quantum realm. The area offers great promise, and the Hubs will keep the UK at the leading edge of this exciting field."

The capabilities in Quantum Technologies offer potentially transformative impacts in key areas such as quantum metrology and sensors; quantum simulators; quantum computers and quantum secure communications.