July 30, 2024 -- A groundbreaking new quantum research hub that aims to develop technologies for an ultra-secure 'quantum internet' of the future is being led by Heriot-Watt University. The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub is one of five hubs announced by the UK government as part of a £160 million investment.

The IQN Hub will focus on creating large-scale quantum networks capable of distributing quantum entanglement, potentially leading to the development of a secure communications network and therefore an internet free from hacking issues.

In an era where cybercrime costs the UK an estimated £27 billion annually, the quantum internet promises unprecedented levels of security. It could also drive advancements in artificial intelligence, drug discovery and environmental monitoring.

The IQN Hub brings together a network of over 40 non-academic collaborators, ranging from startups to multinational corporations, alongside organisations like the National Cyber Security Centre and Scottish Enterprise. It will receive over £20 million in partner support to help translate quantum innovations into new products and services.

The five new quantum hubs are being delivered by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a £106 million investment from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Industry collaboration is a key element, with significant cash and in-kind contributions from partners worth more than £54 million.

Partner universities include Imperial College London, National Physical Laboratory, Queen’s University Belfast, RAL Space STFC and the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh; Glasgow, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Warwick and York.

As the UK aims to become a quantum-enabled economy by 2035, these hubs form a critical piece of the national quantum strategy. They are expected to drive entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regulatory input into the rapidly emerging UK quantum industry, potentially sparking significant economic growth and job creation in the coming years.