On Tuesday 28 August 2018, officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as well as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) visited the UK National Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology.
Professor Andy Schofield, Head of College for Engineering and Physical Sciences, opened the visit with an introduction to the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and its different research focuses. Key industry figures, such as Dr Trevor Cross (Teledyne e2v) and Professor George Tuckwell (RSK) were also present to participate in discussions about the wide scope of potential real-world applications of quantum sensors.
In the afternoon session, Dr Tariq Ali chaired a roundtable discussion, and invited industry partners to deliver short introductions outlining their business purposes, and the potential opportunities identified from the emergence of quantum technology.
The officials were keen to learn about the Quantum Technology Hub’s research into quantum sensors in gravity, time and magnetic applications, and about the various industry links and business models to enable the technology being translated to the marketplace.
The visit both demonstrated and exhibited the commercial opportunities for quantum sensors to key government and industry audiences.