Reflections from the Quantum Technologies Showcase

Exploring the Future of Quantum Innovation

Have you ever walked into a room and felt completely out of your depth?

I like to think that I am well aware of modern technology and its application for industry. This event really opened my eyes to an entirely different and still emerging area of technology. At first glance I was really blown away by how many attendees, and vendors were in attendance, so much interest and development has come from Quantum’s genesis in 1998 with NMR and IBM. Or the first Gate Based Quantum computing in 2019. Almost 20 years from idea to commercialisation.

After my first round I started to get more of sense of what was on offer and what wasn’t but I’ll get into that a little later.

There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air as experts discussed the broader implications of quantum breakthroughs. While the delivery mechanisms are still in development, with only a handful of key opportunities currently emerging, the promise is still there, just a little further away than . Coming from industry and being a practical individual, I found the advances in industrial applications especially appealing, specifically the advances in measurement and imaging.

The idea that you can use the measurement of gravitational changes to map subterranean features, potentially eliminating the need for costly, invasive excavations instead of the current radar technology really captured my imagination, even though such solutions are only just transitioning from the lab to field tests, the potential is huge!

The work from QuSIT and that they are doing field test validation now is very exciting!

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The medical applications were equally compelling. Seeing technologies that enable the capture and analysis of individual molecules being implemented by the NHS at a reasonable price level for something that have historically been confined to labs, was truly inspiring. The eye mapping example done by Siloton, demonstrating advanced analytics in a compact form, stood out as a highlight, showcasing how quantum innovation is already making tangible differences in healthcare. They are using quantum photonics to revolutionise eyecare, and its portable! So, it’s no longer restricted to dedicated medical centres. Early mapping supports early intervention and ultimately bringing the cost burden down significantly especially for more remote comunities.

I also found the future predictions to be very encouraging, although seeing ‘Theory’ on a slide is always puts a little damper on the fire, but real-world accuracy and application is going to be good for our future.

Now some closing remarks…

Despite these advancements, it became clear that for most consumers and even industry, many quantum solutions remain on the distant horizon, constrained by high costs and limited accessibility. At present, the technology appears to focus on solving existing problems more efficiently, rather than offering groundbreaking new experiences for the everyday user. The majority of vendors were offering chips, and technology to solve problems vs the limited few who were offering business solutions. With the conversations at the showcase often centred on the practicalities: how quantum tech can speed things up and how a select few are working on real-world implementation.

Panel discussion on Research Units in the UK are looking towards a UK Quantum Economy

As the event concluded, the prevailing question was about timeliness: what comes next? The journey from concept to everyday application may still be underway, but the Quantum Technologies Showcase left me with a renewed sense of curiosity and optimism for what the future holds.