51³Ô¹ÏÍø

As the International Year of Quantum draws to a close, Provost and Deputy President Professor Peter Haynes celebrates 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s efforts in advancing quantum research, training, and enterprise throughout 2025.

To celebrate a century since quantum mechanics was first described, the United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ).  

The transformative power of quantum technologies is undeniable – and our world-class talent, facilities, partnerships and vision means 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is uniquely placed to lead this revolution as we begin to harness quantum’s vast potential. 

Looking back over the past 12 months, it is thrilling to see 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s impact on the field – through our Centre for Quantum Science, Engineering and Technology (QuEST) and beyond: delivering scientific breakthroughs, international collaborations and industry engagement.

Professor Peter Haynes, Provost of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Breakthrough science

• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's , led by , demonstrated a counter-intuitive world-first in March: how to cool objects by detecting an absence of light. This fundamental discovery may one day be used to cool quantum systems at the heart of quantum computers and networks. 

• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø PhD student Harsh Rathee, who was shortlisted for our Faculty of Natural Science image competition, featured in  in April with his striking image of an optical fibre connected to a dilution refrigerator. Dilution fridges – a key piece of quantum hardware, hosted in our Quantum Science and Device Facility – cool objects to temperatures close to absolute zero where quantum effects become apparent. 
• At the in September QuEST researchers received international recognition - with two projects led by  among the winners. Working with ORCA Computing and Poland’s , the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø team demonstrated the integration of quantum processors with high performance computing systems - a vital step toward scalable quantum machine learning. 
• Quantum science made global headlines in October: the Nobel Prize in Physics went to scientists who first demonstrated macroscopic quantum tunnelling. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers Dr Malcolm Connolly and Dr Niladri Banerjee's current work is directly influenced by these discoveries, and alongside other 51³Ô¹ÏÍø scientists, they shared their excitement about the award with the ,  and .

Driving impact

• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø teamed up with UCL and King’s College London to launch the London Quantum Cluster (LQC) in May, backed by the Greater London Authority. It aims to be a unifying force for quantum innovation in the capital - uniting research, innovation, investment and diverse talent across London to accelerate the quantum economy. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is leading on initiatives including a quantum-for-health workshop with Innovate UK, and an investor masterclass highlighting the potential of quantum startups. 

• Associate Dean for Enterprise at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business School and Entrepreneurial Finance expert  has been educating VCs this year on quantum through the Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship VC Fellowship.

•  – an international company co-founded by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø academic  – raised $1 billion in its September funding round at a valuation of $7 billion. Meanwhile, the UK’s National Quantum Showcase welcomed over 2,500 attendees, including demonstrators from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s quantum community.
• QuEST hosted a quantum for healthcare workshop at our Hammersmith Hospital campus in November, demonstrating new opportunities to Department of Health and Social Care officials, including quantum sensing for medical applications. 

Researchers showcased the latest developments in quantum science at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's South Kensington Campus for World Quantum Day

Policy engagement and skills

• QuEST and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Policy Forum launched Quantum Fundamentals, an eight-week quantum training course for UK government officials, which I was delighted to contribute to.  Over 15 government departments joined in April, with policymakers wanting to better understand quantum science and the quantum ecosystem, highlighting the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to the sector.
• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s then-Provost Professor Ian Walmsley and Assistant Professor in Functional Materials  were appointed to the UK Quantum Strategic Advisory Board in May – supporting the UK Government quantum drive. Dr Wade also served on the Quantum Skills Taskforce, whose  advocated for more quantum opportunities for engineers.

• Training future quantum leaders is a key goal, so it was wonderful to see a student-led workshop to support postgraduate students exploring quantum careers in October. Two of our quantum PhD researchers, Josephine Hunout and Shey Dylan Lovett, worked with QuEST to map the UK’s .
• We’re launching new modules and courses; from Materials for Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies to an interdisciplinary Quantum i-Explore, and a new MSc in Sensor Systems Engineering.
• In October our second Quantum Fundamentals course welcomed another enthusiastic group of civil servants temporarily swapping Whitehall for South Kensington.
• Dr Jess Wade gave evidence before the  in December, where she discussed the UK quantum ecosystem and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s research, education, advocacy and leadership.

US Science Advisor Michael Kratsios and UK Science Secretary Liz Kendall speaking at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for an event on the UK – US Tech Prosperity Deal

Global connections

• Our ICoNYCh transatlantic quantum collaboration – a UK/US collaboration funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - saw QuEST researchers visiting the  in March, where they met quantum innovators, and touring the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) at . 51³Ô¹ÏÍø then hosted an inspiring workshop uniting quantum experts from London, New York, and Chicago - aligning with the ambitions of the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal.

• International conversations continued in May, with the Danish Science Minister visiting 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to explore closer quantum ties, while a South African delegation visited QuEST to identify potential partnerships. Former Provost Professor Ian Walmsley and Dr Jess Wade took part in the IYQ celebrations in Ghana - the and the Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition on Education and Skills Development - where we’ve recently launched one of our Global Hubs.

• At the  in Mumbai, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the India-UK Technology Security Initiative, with quantum as a key pillar. Ahead of the September event, we showcased a  using quantum computing and biotech to help farmers grow climate-resilient crops.
• Back in London, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø welcomed Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Michael Kratsios, Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, who discussed the UK – US Tech Prosperity Deal signed in September, promoting . QuEST also took part in the and SPIE’s in Colorado, identifying new opportunities for collaboration and enterprise.
• The year closed with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Global India hosting a  at the Bengaluru Tech Summit in November. It followed Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong visiting some of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's quantum facilities in October, including 's quantum inertial sensing lab, which develops future navigation systems that don’t rely on satellites, with the tech already trialled on a Navy ship around the Arctic Circle.

Former Provost Professor Ian Walmsley joined the AIMS Quantathon in Accra, Ghana, this year 

Quantum power to the people - engaging the public

• IYQ kicked off with members of QuEST showcasing their latest findings (and discussing their favourite bizarre quantum phenomena) at the Weird Science themed 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Lates. Hot on the heels of the Weird Lates, we partnered with the  for the largest UK celebration of World Quantum Day on April 14th (the reduced Planck’s constant is 4.14 eV fs). Through talks, poetry, live demos and quantum-inspired dance, QuEST made quantum come to life.
• At the Great Exhibition Road Festival in June, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø created a Quantum Zone, including artworks from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s atom interferometry experiments by , an interactive Schrödinger equation by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø graduate and artist , a , and a discussion on Art and Quantum at the V&A.
• – an entanglement-based quantum camera 51³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers are developing to improve cancer diagnosis – was centre stage at the in July.
• We explored the quantum nature of light at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Diwali-themed Lates in October, and quantum clocks – which keep time by measuring the reliable vibrations (or ticks) of atoms – at the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Lates on Time in November.

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Lates 'Weird Science' event at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in February 2025

The future is bright, the future is quantum

Throughout the International Year of Quantum, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's contributions have spanned elegant fundamental quantum science, practical demonstrations of “real world” quantum technologies, and meaningful engagement with investors, policymakers and the public. 

As quantum technologies reshape our world, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø – and its brilliant community - will remain at the forefront of these life-changing discoveries.