Industry and knowledge transfer at SPIE Photonex

The SPIE Photonex exhibition was held in Manchester on 30–31 October 2024. As part of the conference programme, two Technical Topics sessions were organised by the M4QN Industry and Knowledge Transfer Interest Group on the subject of “Applications and Commercialisation considerations for Quantum Photonic Components”.

The sessions were chaired by Dr Denise Powell, Program Manager Quantum Technologies at the Compound Semiconductor Centre (and co-chair of the interest group) and Dr Mohsin Haji, Principal Scientist in the Time and Frequency Department at the National Physical Laboratory. The sessions ran over two days and included talks from multiple organisations involved in the UK’s emerging quantum industry, including NPL, CSC, Microchip, CPI and Infleqtion. The audience were from a variety of backgrounds including government, academia, and industry.

Session 1 programme

Session 2 programme

The sessions focussed on three key areas: systems, components and packaging. The systems-related talks included atomic clocks (NPL, Infleqtion, AQuark), magnetometers and gyros (Microchip), inertial sensors (CPI), and gas detection (QLM). Several component manufacturers presented talks on bespoke photonics for quantum application, including ICS, INEX, Vector, Cardiff University, RedWave, and NKT. These were supported with talks from photonics packaging companies Bay Photonics, ALTER, and Fraunhofer CAP.

The talks were all very well received and some common themes emerged. Many of the talks reflected on the challenges and successes of the UK’s quantum programme to date, and the criticality of supply chains, including materials and components, to help underpin these quantum systems. All speakers discussed world-leading technology and capability development triumphs, and system trials of working with quantum systems in real-world applications. The speakers discussed market challenges as well as technical challenges, and emphasised the need for better coordination and strategy across the UK’s quantum programme to help industry deal with the risks and challenges of new technology development and manufacturing. The piecemeal and intermittent nature of public funding in the UK, as well as market uncertainties, is limiting industry’s ability to establish the required supply chains for quantum. This may be resolved in the new format for “Missions” in the next phase of the National Quantum Programme.

The conference itself was well attended, with over 100 exhibitors and 1000 attendees. The sessions provided great opportunity for these companies to network and form new partnerships as well as strengthen existing ones. The UK’s photonics sector is highly reputable and complements the UK’s National Quantum Programme to provide companies with a strong advantage in technology development in the UK. M4QN will continue to provide a platform for these organisations to interact and engage to create exceptional technologies.