27 Apr 2021

Event round-up: Commercialising Quantum - Positioning the UK for success

On 13 April techUK’s technology and Innovation programme kicked-off its year-long campaign on Quantum Commercialisation with an hour long webinar focussing on bringing the tech sector to the heart of the UK’s Quantum Future.

This session was hosted by Sue Daley, Director Tech & Innovation at techUK, and was joined by:

Roger McKinlay, ISCF Challenge Director Quantum Technologies, UKRI
Philippa Sharma, Deputy Director, Technology Strategy and Security, Business Growth Directorate, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Steve Brierley, CEO, Riverlane
Mark Mattingley- Scott, Ambassador Leader EMEA & AP, IBM Quantum

You can watch the panel below:

Quantum driven technologies, solutions, products and services are expected to bring profound changes to the technology sector itself and will be transformational to areas such as national security, finance, telecommunications, construction and civil engineering.   The UK has huge potential to be leaders of Quantum Commercialisation, with efforts by Government, industry and academia and National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) positioning the UK towards developing Quantum technology applications through commercialisation and industrialisation.

However, to fully harness the social and economic benefits of Quantum we need to act now to will bring together the technology sector, key stakeholders, policy makers and the wider business community to create a thriving Quantum market for new products and services.

This session explored:

What makes the UK the place to invest in quantum technologies?
How have universities helped lay the groundwork in the UK for quantum commercialisation? How do we successfully commercialise the research done at an academic level?
What are the timeframes for quantum commercialisation in the UK? How does this vary to other European countries?
Which industries and sectors are set to benefit the most from quantum in the UK?
One of the greatest opportunities of quantum is mitigating climate change, but this is still relatively unexplored. What is the role of quantum in mitigating climate change?
What do we need to do to get the wider technology sector engaging in quantum?

This session is just one part of techUK’s year-long campaign on Quantum Commercialisation. In 2021, techUK will bring together the technology sector, key stakeholders, policy makers and the wider business community to discuss whether we have in place what is needed to drive forward the commercialisation of Quantum technologies; create a thriving Quantum market for new products and services; and support the development of a world leading Quantum industry.

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

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Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.

She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology

Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.

Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster

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Elis Thomas

Programme Manager, Tech and Innovation, techUK

Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on AI, Semiconductors and Digital ID.

He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.

Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.