February 2021
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference examines latest developments in developing quantum technologies in the UK.
Areas for discussion include:
- development and applications of quantum technologies
- investment and the research landscape
- the way forward for commercialisation and regulation
The seminar is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; DCMS; the IPO; the DSTL; DIT; the DfT; the European Space Agency; the Geospatial Commission; the Home Office; the MOD; and The Scottish Government.
The agenda
- Developing the UK’s quantum technologies sector - progress so far, and lessons learnt from the first phase of the Quantum Technologies Programme
- Taking forward quantum technology in the UK - priorities for the second phase of the of the Quantum Technologies Programme and use cases for quantum technology across the UK economy
- Research and development in quantum technologies in the UK - funding, collaboration between universities and industry, and international partnerships
- The impact of new investment on the growth of quantum technologies - supporting emerging projects and applications in the UK, and tackling key barriers to development and widespread uptake
- Developing quantum technologies in the UK - priorities for commercialisation and the UK Quantum Technologies Challenge programme
Key areas for discussion:
- the UK National Quantum Technology Programme - assessing progress, what lessons can be learnt from phase one, and the priorities for phase two:
- the four hubs - assessing the work on sensors and timing, imaging, computing and simulation, and communications technologies, and plans going forward
- progress on individual projects - such as the new National Quantum Computing Centre
- next steps - what more is needed from policy, research institutions, and industry to support quantum sector development, and the UK’s international competitiveness and positioning
- the evolving landscape - looking at research, skills and funding in the sector:
- the skills challenge - what is needed to secure the UK’s position in quantum technologies, and the impact of the Centres for Doctoral Training
- international partnerships - prospects and priorities for growing global relationships in the development and commercialisation of quantum with the end of the EU exit transition period
- UK cross-sector collaboration - strategies and best practice for developing effective joint working between the public sector, academia, and industry
- commercialisation, scaling up and uptake:
- the commercialising quantum technologies programme - its impact, and how the findings from the projects might be applied more broadly
- proof of concepts - demonstrating practical applications of quantum technologies and possible use cases to support rollout
- priority uses - examining the Government’s outline funding and the focus of support plans for addressing global and industrial challenges
- tackling barriers - managing quantum development, including technical challenges of scalability, stability, and reliability, and integration with existing systems and computing processes
- regulation - priorities for the framework and policy to support the developing technology, address any ethical and market issues, and be able to adapt as quantum technology advances
- public sector investment - assessing initiatives and commitments already announced, and the way forward and focus for supporting research in UK universities and research institutions
- private funding - what more may be needed from policy to incentivise private sector investment, increase the availability and diversity of funding sources, and better connect those in the sector with potential backers
Background and developments at a glance:
- the UK National Quantum Technology Programme - its ongoing work following phase 1 and into Phase 2, following a £94m investment from the EPSRC in four hubs over five years
- the four quantum hubs - focusing on sensors and timing, enhanced imaging, computing and simulation, and communications technologies
- £70m funding to secure UK position as a world-leader in quantum technology - government funding for 38 new projects in areas such as medical diagnosis and greenhouse gas emissions
- Government backs UK’s first quantum computer - in Abingdon and commercially available to businesses, and the Government’s ambition for the UK to be the world’s first quantum-ready economy
- Science Minister launches National Quantum Computing Centre - aimed at supporting tackling the challenge of scaling quantum computing
- the commercialising quantum technologies programme - focusing on sectors including automotive and healthcare, infrastructure and telecommunications, and cybersecurity and defence
- UK and Canada launch world-first programme of quantum technologies - UKRI/NSERC funding competition winners announced as part of the bilateral commercialisation and research initiative
- UKRI and the US to collaborate on research commercialisation - working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on research and commercialisation in quantum information science as well as AI and advanced manufacturing
- Quantum Ambassador Programme - scheme supported through the UK National Quantum Technology Programme to get young people engaged with quantum sciences
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; CDEI; the DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the DSTL; the European Space Agency; the Geospatial Commission; the Intellectual Property Office; the Ministry of Defence; Ofcom; and The Scottish Government. Also due to attend are representatives from Cambridge Quantum Computing; Department of Communications and Digital Technologies; Irish Development Authority (IDA); MBDA UK; Oxford Ionics; Oxfordshire County council; STFC-UKRI; Technopolis; Teledyne e2v; The Institute of Physics; UKRI-STFC and University of Cambridge.
Press passes have been reserved by representatives from Satellite Evolution Group and ZDNet
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference