Greg Clark, Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities, has announced a national network of Quantum Technology Hubs that will explore the properties of quantum mechanics and how they can be applied. Greg Clark, Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities, has announced a national network of Quantum Technology Hubs that will explore the properties of quantum mechanics and how they can be applied.
The network will be funded by the EPSRC with £120million of the £270m investment in quantum technologies announced in 2013 by the Chancellor. In total, 17 UK universities will work with 132 companies.
The network will consist of four hubs, selected after a competitive peer reviewed process. They will be led by the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford and York.
Clark 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."
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 four hubs are: Quantum Sensing and Metrology, led by the University of Birmingham; Quantum Sensing and Imaging, led by the University of Glasgow; Quantum Computing and Simulation, led by the University of Oxford; and Quantum Communications, led by the University of York.
Image: Courtesy of CERN
Author
Graham Pitcher
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk