Exploring emerging quantum technologies with the Economist

On 5 June 2024, Professor Michael Holynski – Principal Scientist at the UK Quantum Technology Hub’s Sensors and Synchronization led by the University of Birmingham – was invited to speak on the overall missions of the Quantum Technology Hub and aims at the third annual event Commercializing Quantum Global, a conference. hosted by Economist Impact in London.

During the two days of the conference, the summit featured 111 high-level speakers who shared their experiences and best practices in integrating quantum technology into their businesses. More than 50 sessions were delivered, exploring how organizations can best prepare for quantum technologies in the short and long term future. The event included the participation of more than 780 global leaders, policy makers and business executives from 33 countries. Attendees had the opportunity to network with industry experts and explore potential collaborations and partnerships.

Professor Holynski discussed the key field tests undertaken by researchers at the Quantum Technology Hub and the various technological development pathways. An example of this is gravity sensing research. In 2022, researchers reported in Nature that an object hidden underground had been located using quantum technology—a long-awaited milestone with profound implications for industry, human knowledge, and national security. This important discovery led to field trials with the Royal Navy and also to the creation of a new start-up – Delta g – founded by Professor Michael Holynski, Dr Andrew Lamb and Jonathan Winch in 2023.

Quantum-enabled networked radar is another key focus for researchers at the Quantum Technology Hub. Over the past few years, two observing radars have been installed atop buildings on the University of Birmingham campus, representing major steps in the journey towards hosting the world’s first quantum-enabled networked radar installation, helping to showcase the impressive detection capabilities offered by quantum synchronization. dispozitive.

The event also included researchers from Quantum Technology Hub partner institutions: Professor Mark Fromhold from the University of Nottingham was part of a panel session discussing how quantum sensor-enabled solutions can help people live a healthier and longer. David Woolger from start-up company Cerca Magnetics along with Dr Margot Taylor from the Hospital for Sick Children talked about how quantum magnetoencephalography enables functional brain imaging in young children and clinical populations. Dr Rhys Lewis from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) spoke about the critical role of metrology and standards in supporting the UK quantum ecosystem.

For more information on the sensors and timing of the UK Quantum Technology Hub, please visit the website at www.quantumsensors.org.