Details of Grant

EPSRC Reference:

EP/Z533166/1

Title:

UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing (QuSIT)

Principal Investigator:

Other Investigators:

Faccio, Professor DFA	Antoniou, Dr M	Weatherill, Professor KJ
Fromhold, Professor TM	Riis, Professor E	Bowtell, Professor R
Constantinou, Professor CC	Smith, Professor PGR	Wilkinson, Dr PB
Mather, Professor ML	Metje, Professor N	Faramarzi, Professor A
Malik, Professor M	Bowman, Dr R W	Ingleby, Dr SJ
Alconcel, Dr L	Maccarone, Dr A	Kallepalli, Dr A
Hackermueller, Dr L	Turyanska, Dr L	Griffin, Professor PF
Leach, Dr J	Phillips, Professor C	McLaughlin, Professor S
Brookes, Professor MJ	Padgett, Professor M	Wildman, Professor R
Gawith, Professor C	Oulton, Professor RFM	ALTMANN, Dr Y
Clark, Dr A S	Singh, Professor Y	Bennett, Dr S
Lyons, Dr A	Hayati, Dr F	Lellouch, Dr S

Researcher Co-Investigators:

Dr R H S Bannerman	Mr OS Burrow	Dr L Downes
Dr T Dyer	Dr NR Gemmell	Dr A Hinton
Dr P J Hobson	Dr D Hunter	Dr G Tawy

Project Partners:

Atkins Limited	AWE	BAE Systems
BT	Cerca Magnetics Limited	ColdQuanta UK Ltd
Covesion Ltd	Delta g limited	Department for Transport
Digistain Limited	Government Office for Science	High Speed Two HS2 Limited
INEX Microtechnology Ltd	MBDA	Metatek-Group Ltd
National Grid	National Physical Laboratory NPL	Network Rail
NKT Photonics A/S	Ordnance Survey	QLM Technology Ltd
QuSpin	Royal Institute of Navigation	RSK Environmental Ltd
Severn Trent Plc Group	STL Tech Limited	Thales Ltd
The Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd	Torr Scientific Ltd	UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesd

Department:

School of Physics and Astronomy

Organisation:

University of Birmingham

Scheme:

Standard Research TFS

Starts:

01 September 2024

Ends:

31 August 2029

Value (£):

20,941,588

EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:

EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:

Aerospace, Defence and Marine	Construction
Healthcare	Transport Systems and Vehicles

Related Grants:

Panel History:

Summary on Grant Application Form

Quantum sensing, imaging and timing will deliver transformative advancements across multiple sectors, including healthcare, infrastructure, transportation, environmental sustainability and security.

These technologies make seeing the invisible possible: the inside workings of our brains, the infrastructure buried beneath our feet, the polluting gases in the air around us, the cancers lurking in our tissue or the drones in our crowded skies. These are some of the challenges we are poised to address.

Our Hub in Quantum Sensing Imaging and Timing (QuSIT) brings together academic experts and industry partners, collaborating to translate cutting-edge research into tangible innovations. QuSIT will capitalise on a decade of substantial governmental and industrial investments, consolidating expertise and world-class capability from two established UK Hubs: QuantIC, specialising in quantum-enhanced imaging and the UK Sensing and Timing Hub. QuSIT will be a unified centre of excellence, providing thought leadership within the UK's quantum technology landscape, crucial to the National Quantum Strategy.

At the heart of QuSIT is a world-leading and diverse team of 45 investigators, comprising both emerging talents and seasoned experts. Their impressive academic track record is complemented by a shared commitment to translating innovation from the laboratory to address real-world challenges. Our researchers have a history of licensing technology to industry and launching their own ventures.

The technologies we will exploit are based on both atomic states and entangled photons to create quantum devices that sense and image otherwise invisible optical wavelengths, radio-frequencies, magnetic and gravitational fields, and exploit precision time, including:

Optical wavelength translation using non-linear interferometry and non-linear optics

Atom interferometry for gravity and gravity gradient sensing

Waveguide optics for wavelength conversion

Optically pumped magnetometers for zero and high absolute fields

Metasurfaces for lightweight and compact optics

Wavefront shaping for seeing through obscuration

Data fusion of quantum and classical sensor data, using AI and Bayesian Inference

Quantum enabled frequency sources to enhance radar systems

Our approach revolves around co-creating research with end-users, fostering collaborations between academics and industry players throughout the supply chain, and rigorously testing and refining our innovations through field trials in partnership with our collaborating companies, pursuing new approaches to:

Line-of-sight imaging of polluting, or toxic gases and chemicals

Monitoring of brain health

Screening for concealed and dangerous objects

Imaging of underground infrastructure

Mid-infrared, holographic microscopes for clinical diagnosis

Application of precise timing for the monitoring of congested airspace

The hub is supported by companies and other end-users many of which have made significant investments. These include BT, BAE Systems, Department for Transport, Great Ormond Street Hospital, National Grid, National Physical Laboratory, Ordnance Survey and Severn Trent Water.

In the increasingly competitive international landscape, QuSIT will provide the vision and have the convening power required to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of quantum technology internationally, delivering accelerated economic growth and societal benefits through collaboration between academia and industry.

Key Findings

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Potential use in non-academic contexts

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Impacts

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Summary
Date Materialised

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Project URL:

Further Information:

Organisation Website:

http://www.bham.ac.uk