BI Foresight

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  

Is photonics the final frontier of quantum computing? Quantum computing is racing towards commercialisation, and photonics—using light instead of electrons—is emerging as a key player in making it happen. But why is this light-based approach gaining so much attention? Here’s what you need to know: The Case for Photonics Unlike matter-based systems, photons aren’t affected by heat or environmental interference. As Pete Shadbolt, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of PsiQuantum PsiQuantum, explains: “Photons don’t feel heat. They don’t get jiggled around by heat. So we just have an intrinsic advantage.” PsiQuantum, born from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Quantum Photonics and Imperial College London, is betting big on a vision of creating a fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer with one million qubits. Their approach? Skip the incremental steps and aim directly for scale—something only possible with photonics. Why Photonics Matters Photonics not only offers stability but also integrates well with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes, making it easier to scale. As Shadbolt highlights, traditional quantum systems struggle with networking—an essential part of making quantum computers truly useful. But photonics can transmit quantum information over optical fibres, avoiding the inefficiencies of matter-based systems. A New Paradigm for Networking For Stephanie Simmons, founder of Photonic Inc. and co-chair of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, photonics offers a unique chance to build scalable, fault-tolerant quantum networks. As she puts it: “We have a unique opportunity... every time we commercialise a branch of physics, it takes a while for it to play out. The last time, it was semiconductors. And people got very excited about hearing aids. They weren’t thinking of AI back then.” Her company’s partnership with Microsoft is aiming to create a quantum networking platform that can link quantum processors via photonic systems—something the tech giant sees as crucial to its Azure Quantum ecosystem. The Funding Floodgates Are Opening The big bets are already being placed. PsiQuantum recently secured $450 million in Series D funding, pushing its valuation to a staggering $3 billion. Governments are also investing heavily, with the UK alone dedicating £2.5 billion to quantum funding. Why This Matters Now Quantum computing’s potential to solve problems far beyond the reach of today’s supercomputers has been a dream for years. But the key takeaway from Dan Oliver’s deep dive is this: Photonics may be the approach that finally brings quantum computing to reality. And companies like PsiQuantum and Photonic Inc. are proving that it’s not just theory—it’s a pathway being built right now. Full article - https://lnkd.in/eTZAeR54

Blossom has been my favourite flower ever since my time in Japan, but this spring the trilling of songbirds returning from their migrations has been catching my attention. I was intrigued to hear that these songbirds embark on these huge migrations alone, without even a parent to guide them. These tiny creatures travel thousands of miles, with some birds returning to home territory with centimetre precision. And it seems most likely that the means for a lot of songbirds to find their way home harnesses quantum mechanics. https://lnkd.in/ecyj7tAq Huge thanks to Peter Hore, Miriam Liedvogel and Iannis Kominis for taking the time to talk to me about this

Just add diamonds? The race to solve a sustainable battery problem How do we power the future without depleting the planet’s resources? The conversation around sustainable battery technology is evolving fast, with innovators exploring ground breaking ways to make batteries part of a genuine circular economy. The Circular Economy Push The EU Battery Regulation Directive is setting ambitious targets, demanding a leap from recycling 50% of lithium by 2027 to 80% by 2031. With millions of tonnes of spent batteries projected by 2030, recycling has become more than a good idea—it’s essential. New Life for Old Batteries The University of Bristol is putting theory into practice by repurposing electric car batteries to power an experimental campus building, aligned with the Bristol Digital Futures Institute. For Alastair Hales, it’s not just about making the system work—it’s about perfecting the software to manage when and how to charge and discharge based on renewable energy availability. His goal? Providing insights that others can replicate to build a smarter, greener future. Breaking Down Batteries—Literally The Earthshot Prize-winning company GRST has developed a revolutionary process to make batteries recyclable using just water. As Justin Hung explains, their approach transforms toxic 'black mass' recovery into an eco-friendly process by changing the way batteries are built from the ground up. It’s a step away from harmful chemicals toward a cleaner, circular economy. Alternative Battery Chemistry Researchers like Maria Crespo at Queen Mary University of London are thinking outside the lithium-ion box. Her team is developing sodium-ion batteries from particles derived from tyres—offering a cheaper, more environmentally friendly solution to the energy storage problem. Meanwhile, Dr. Heather Au from Imperial College London is working on lithium-sulphur batteries made with waste from the paper industry, promising lighter, more efficient power storage with less environmental impact. Turning Waste into Wealth But perhaps the most futuristic approach comes from Bristol’s Neil Fox and Thomas Scott, who are developing diamond-coated batteries made from radioactive waste. By harnessing the power of carbon-14 and tritium, these batteries could last for centuries, providing near-limitless power for applications from asset tracking to space exploration. “We are aiming to be world leaders in diamond batteries,” says Professor Neil Fox, highlighting how their work with the UK Atomic Energy Authority and ESA could turn nuclear waste from an environmental challenge into a clean, long-lasting energy solution. The future of battery technology is being rewritten right now—by diversifying materials, perfecting recycling processes, and finding new uses for what was once considered waste. https://lnkd.in/ent5Bz3x

We're pleased to announce, Francesco Raffaelli as one of the expert panellists for our Foresight Live panel and networking event: The Convergence of Critical Technologies in Quantum on 3 April.    Francesco pursued a PhD at the Quantum Engineering and Technology Labs QET Labs at the University of Bristol (2018) with a thesis on quantum random number generators in integrated photonics. After the PhD, he joined KETS Quantum Security, a startup that develops chip-based quantum cryptography solutions. In 2022, Francesco was awarded the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship aimed at the development of novel photonic integrated circuits and quantum cryptography systems for KETS. Book your place now and don't miss this invaluable opportunity to connect and collaborate with leading innovation players to shape the future.  👇  https://bit.ly/3QA0NHO    🗓️3 April  ⏰4.30 - 7pm  📍Engine Shed, Bristol    #Quantum #Innovation #TechIndustry #UKTech