BI Foresight

📡 Quantum photonics is shaping the future of secure communications – and it’s happening faster than you think. BI Foresight recently sat down with Jon Pugh, Director of Photonic Integrated Circuits and Quantum Technology at Optica, to discuss how quantum photonics is moving from research to real-world applications. 💡 What’s happening? 👉 Banks like JP Morgan & HSBC are already testing quantum-safe networks 👉 Hospitals in Spain are securing patient data with quantum encryption 👉 Companies like Qunnect and Toshiba are racing to bring quantum repeaters to extend secure networks worldwide With Q-Day approaching, the moment quantum computers can break today’s encryption, the race to secure data is on. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dmsbcKbJ #Quantumcomputing #photonics #cybersecurity #quantuminternet

It was good to seen some realism at the Connected Futures event from JOINER Platform in Bristol last week. There were some great comments from Nektaria Efthymiou from BT Group, Doug Pulley from RANsemi, Dan Warren from Samsung Global Research (SGR), Simon Fletcher from Real Wireless and Jessica Ellis (Pyett-Ellis) from WM5G, among many others. Check out our write-up on BI Foresight https://lnkd.in/endW-FNt #6G #futuretelecoms #advancedconnectivity #businessinnovation

Telecoms is no longer just infrastructure—it’s the backbone of AI, quantum, and 6G innovation. Discover why the UK’s tech future depends on how we reimagine our networks.

From quantum security to next-gen connectivity and materials break throughs, the future is not just about invention—it is about execution. The true leaders of the next wave of innovation will not simply be those with the best ideas, but those who can manufacture, deploy, and integrate them at scale. As we stand at this pivotal moment, the question is not if these technologies will change our world—it is who will lead the charge?

Robotics is evolving—but quantum may be what takes it from capable to truly intelligent. In this article, Jane Wakefield explores how quantum technologies are being embedded in real-world robotics—from logistics and agriculture to autonomous vehicles and micro-surgery. Kristin Gilkes, EY & University of Oxford explains how quantum sensors can guide aircraft when GPS fails, offering resilience in high-risk environments. Ekaterina Almasque, OpenOcean sees quantum as the key to real-time perception and decision-making—where current systems still fall short. Amina Hamoud (PhD, FHEA), Bristol Robotics Laboratory is using quantum simulations to dramatically speed up testing for autonomous vehicles, making complex systems safer, faster. And Joe Smith, RobQuant is developing robotic arms for precision tasks in quantum labs—laying the groundwork for medical micro-robotics in the future. This isn’t theoretical. It’s already happening—and it could redefine how machines move, see, and respond to the world around them. Full article in comments below 👇

📢 Two days to go until our Foresight Live: Convergence of Critical Technologies in Quantum event at Engine Shed, Bristol.    Book now to join us for a discussion with experts Zoe Davidson (BT Group), Ruth Oulton (University of Bristol), Francesco Raffaelli (KETS Quantum Security) and Chair Thierry Heles on the challenges and opportunities driving innovation in quantum.  👇  https://bit.ly/4jUCSA7    -Panel discussion and Q&A with expert researchers and cutting-edge businesses leaders🎤  -Deep dive into real-world applications, emerging trends and pathways to collaboration⚙️  -Networking reception🤝    Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to connect and collaborate with leading innovation players to shape the future.    🗓️3 April  ⏰4.30 - 7pm  📍Engine Shed, Bristol    #Innovation #TechConvergence #QuantumTech #Telecoms  

Telecoms: The Hidden Key to the UK’s Tech Future? At a recent Foresight Live roundtable chaired by David Willetts, a compelling case emerged: if the UK wants to lead in AI, quantum, and semiconductors, it needs to get serious about telecoms. Dave Smith, national technology adviser, argues that telecoms isn’t just one of the UK’s five critical technologies—it’s the one that enables all the others. But despite global recognition for innovation, the UK ranks just 31st for adoption. That disconnect is stark, and telecoms sits at the centre of it. Voices like Dimitra Simeonidou, FREng, FIEEE and Martin Kuball from the University of Bristol emphasised that software is now the real strategic asset. Meanwhile, companies like Microsoft are already investing—its acquisition of Lumenisity Limited and research with the University of Southampton show that big tech is watching. There’s momentum in clusters like South Wales, where IQE, KLA, and Microchip Technology Inc. are anchoring a billion-pound semiconductor hub. But the roadmap is still missing—and without one, scaling spinouts, training talent, and securing long-term investment remains a challenge. As Nick S. from the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult put it, the UK needs a national prototype centre to showcase and accelerate this convergence—before opportunity slips away. Read the full write-up by Thierry Heles to find out why telecoms might just be the foundation of the UK’s entire tech strategy - link in comments below The next chapter? Join us at Foresight Live: Convergence of Critical Technologies in Quantum – 3 April, Engine Shed Bristol, with speakers from BT, University of Bristol, and KETS Quantum Security. Registration is free and there are a few tickets left - link in comments below #Telecoms #Quantum #Semiconductors #AI #Innovation #UKTech #ForesightLive #EngineShed #UniversityOfBristol #IQE #Microsoft #CSAcatapult

The Five Platform Problem: Which Quantum Technology Will Win? The race to build a commercially useful quantum computer is heating up. McKinsey estimates the market could be worth $2 trillion within a decade—but no one knows which technology will take the crown. The Contenders: Superconducting Qubits – Favoured by Google and IBM Q for scalability via established semiconductor manufacturing. But coherence issues and extreme cooling remain challenges. Trapped Ion Qubits – Pioneered by IonQ, Quantinuum, and Oxford Ionics, with excellent gate fidelity but inefficiencies in cooling and operation. Photonic Qubits – Companies like PsiQuantum and Xanadu bet on photons’ immunity to heat and noise, and compatibility with semiconductor manufacturing. Neutral Atom Qubits – Room-temperature operation and potential for scaling, but speed is a concern. Silicon Spin Qubits – Built on existing CMOS processes, but require ultra-cold temperatures and complex control systems. It’s Not Winner-Takes-All: Justin Ging of Atom Computing argues different technologies will dominate different applications: “Until universal fault-tolerant quantum computing resources are widely available, the market can stay diversified.” Massive Funding War: Over $40 billion in public funding is committed globally, with China leading at $15 billion. Governments are investing heavily, hoping to stay ahead of the post-quantum security curve. Who Will Win? Hermann Hauser believes: “Superconducting qubits and trapped ions have the lead, but photonic and silicon spin technology might be the long-term winners—or perhaps a combination of the two.” Quantum computing’s future is still unwritten, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. Read Dan Oliver’s full article - https://lnkd.in/eTZAeR54

My first article for BI Foresight is out now, looking at what the UK needs to do to be a world leader in #telecoms as we head towards #6G (where the University of Bristol is doing some really, really cool research as part of UKTIN). https://lnkd.in/eTHcXjJc

Just one week to go until our Foresight Live: Convergence of Critical Technologies in Quantum panel event on 3 April at Engine Shed, Bristol.    Book now to join us for a discussion with experts Zoe Davidson, Ruth Oulton, Francesco Raffaelli and Chair Thierry Heles on the challenges and opportunities driving innovation in quantum.  👇  https://bit.ly/4jUCSA7    -Panel discussion and Q&A with expert researchers and cutting-edge businesses leaders🎤  -Deep dive into real-world applications, emerging trends and pathways to collaboration⚙️  -Drinks and nibbles reception with networking🤝    Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to connect and collaborate with leading innovation players to shape the future.    🗓️3 April  ⏰4.30 - 7pm  📍Engine Shed, Bristol    #Innovation #TechConvergence #AI #QuantumTech