Institutional development · Industry collaboration · United Kingdom
Five UK universities launch Quantum SuperConnector to turn quantum research into business
Cambridge, Imperial College London, Bristol, Glasgow and Oxford have launched a UK-wide initiative linking quantum researchers with entrepreneurs, investors, industry adopters and policymakers.
Why it matters: Quantum researchers at the five consortium universities and across the UK gain a programme intended to help them attract investment and speed adoption of their technologies.
A consortium of five universities – Cambridge, Imperial College London, Bristol, Glasgow and Oxford – has launched the UK Quantum SuperConnector, which Cambridge said aims to close the gap between quantum research and commercial success.
According to Cambridge, the initiative will build a UK-wide community of entrepreneurs, investors, industry adopters and policymakers and help researchers nationwide attract investment and accelerate adoption of quantum technologies.
Professor Ramana Nanda of Imperial Business School will be Director of the Quantum SuperConnector, Cambridge said.
Cambridge said its contribution draws on startups such as Nu Quantum and Riverlane and on its partnership with IonQ to set up the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, launched in October 2026, which is due to house the UK's most powerful quantum computer once installed next year.
Editor’s view
Joseph Lopez, Collaboration Editor
Researchers at Cambridge, Imperial, Bristol, Glasgow and Oxford, and quantum researchers elsewhere in the UK, are the intended beneficiaries; if the programme works as described, they will have a shared route to investors, industry adopters and policymakers under a director based at Imperial Business School.
What to watch
- Installation of the quantum computer at the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, which Cambridge says will take place next year.
