Centre for Quantum Technology launches at Glasgow

The University of Glasgow announced the opening of a dedicated centre for quantum technology research during the SPIE Photonex + Vacuum Technologies conference on Sept 29. The University also opened applications for a million-dollar scholarship fund for graduate student recruitment, supported with funding from SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

The University already leads QuantIC, the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Imaging opened in 2014 and contributes to three other Quantum Technology Hubs launched at the same time; Glasgow researchers and are currently working with more than 50 industrial partners. The University’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and its commercial arm, Kelvin Nanotechnology Ltd, also provide essential support to the Centre, through creation of components underpinning new quantum technologies in areas including computing, imaging, communications and sensors.  

Speaking at the launch of the Quantum centre, director Professor Miles Padgett, said: “We’re proud to be officially launching the Centre for Quantum Technology at the SPIE Photonex + Vacuum Technologies conference today. Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has grown a quantum research activity to become one of the largest quantum centres in the UK.
“The Centre aims to further build on these strengths and develop new commercial partnerships, translate fundamental research into new products, and to attract and retain the best researchers and students to the city.  
“To that end, we’re delighted to have the support of the SPIE Endowment Matching Program to help us encourage the next generation of quantum researchers in academia and in industry. We’re looking forward to welcoming the programme’s first inductees to our new Advanced Research Centre, set to open next year, which will be home to many of our quantum research projects.”
The University has received $500,000 (£425,000) from the SPIE Endowment Matching Program, which has been 100% matched by the University, creating a fund worth a total of $1m (£850,000).
The SPIE Early Career Researcher Accelerator Fund in Quantum Photonics supports two new schemes at the University- an annual SPIE Early Career Researcher in Quantum Photonics Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding University of Glasgow graduate student; and the SPIE Global Early Career Research program that will pair several University early-career researchers with counterparts from outside laboratories for six-month-long shared projects.

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