Insider Brief:
- The UK has launched the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, led by Heriot-Watt University and backed by over £42 million, to develop scalable, secure quantum communications infrastructure as part of the UK’s 2035 quantum strategy.
- The Hub unites 12 leading universities, two national laboratories, and more than 40 industry partners to tackle key challenges in quantum networking, including interoperability, security protocols, and integration with current fiber infrastructure.
- Researchers are advancing core technologies such as quantum memories, light sources, detectors, and satellite-enabled systems to enable both metropolitan and intercontinental quantum communication.
- The initiative supports national goals in workforce development and commercialization, aligning with the UKRI’s broader network of quantum technology hubs totaling £106 million in investment.
The UK has formally launched the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, a large-scale national initiative intended to accelerate the deployment of secure and scalable quantum communications infrastructure. According to a news release from Heriot-Watt University, the Hub is backed by more than £42 million (approximately $54 million) in combined support from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and over 40 industrial partners.
Led by Heriot-Watt University, the Hub brings together 12 UK academic institutions—including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, and Glasgow—alongside the National Physical Laboratory and STFC RAL Space. The goal is to address the technical and engineering challenges associated with quantum networking, a large component of the UK’s broader quantum strategy, which includes a target of deploying the world’s most advanced quantum network infrastructure by 2035.
The project was formally launched on April 9 in Edinburgh, with over 120 researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in attendance. Officials from DSIT, GCHQ, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the National Quantum Computing Centre participated in the event, which featured talks and panels on the roadmap for next-generation quantum networks.
Moving Beyond QKD: Toward Scalable Quantum Networks
Quantum networks are designed to transmit quantum information using entanglement and quantum measurement protocols that cannot be replicated by classical systems. These networks differ from conventional fiber communications by enabling capabilities such as quantum-secure communication and distributed quantum processing. One focus of the IQN Hub is to develop fully scalable, interoperable quantum networks that can support a wide range of applications.
As noted by Professor Gerald Buller, Hub Leader and a developer of single-photon detection technologies, the collaboration is “building on the UK’s enormous strengths in quantum research” and will translate research efforts into deployable infrastructure. The Hub’s research spans multiple layers of the network stack—from photon sources and quantum memories to switchable components and security protocols.
Industry involvement is central to the Hub’s structure. Partners include BT, Toshiba Europe, Airbus, and satellite-focused quantum communication programs like SPOQC (Space-based Photon entanglement Quantum Communications). A full list of all involved partners can be found on the UKRI website. According to Andrew Lord, Head of Optical Network Research at BT, “Quantum networks go far beyond Quantum Key Distribution, and we are excited to see research leading towards the ultimate promise of quantum connections between quantum computers.”
Technology Development and Satellite Integration
The IQN Hub also plays a role in supporting UK ambitions in quantum satellite communications, an area being explored through such missions such as SPOQC. These initiatives are in an effort to extend entanglement distribution capabilities beyond terrestrial limits by linking satellite-based systems with ground networks, forming the foundation of future intercontinental quantum networks.
Researchers are concurrently developing the underlying technologies necessary for scalable quantum networks, including high-performance quantum light sources, low-noise detectors, and robust quantum switches. The Hub is also working with national agencies to define emerging standards in quantum-secure communication.
The IQN Hub’s architecture includes localized links between quantum processors, broader fiber-based networks, and integration with satellite communications. These multi-scale capabilities are expected to enable a range of use cases, from metropolitan-scale QKD deployments to global entanglement distribution. One technical challenge addressed by the Hub is the development of quantum memories with sufficient coherence times to act as repeaters—key components for extending the range of quantum links.
Additionally, the Hub is contributing to the design of protocols that can interface with existing fiber-optic infrastructure while ensuring compatibility with future quantum hardware. Researchers are working to ensure that network components from transmission protocols to error correction mechanisms are compatible with both current telecom standards and quantum requirements.
National Collaboration and Ecosystem Building
In parallel, efforts are being made to align talent development with research needs. According to Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt, initiatives like the IQN Hub serve as “innovation clusters” where cross-sector collaboration can support workforce development and drive commercial impact. This includes contributions from the National Quantum Technologies Programme, which is coordinating a network of five quantum technology hubs under UKRI with a total investment of £106 million (approximately $137 million).