£2.5 million boost for Glasgow Uni spin-out at cutting edge of quantum tech
“One of the main features of quantum computers is that they will be really good at cracking codes” – Jack Brennan, co-founder
A University of Glasgow spin-out has raised £2.5 million to create a supply chain for quantum hardware, as the UK races to build domestic capacity in technologies critical to national security.
Quantcore is understood to be the only company in the UK manufacturing niobium-based components. One benefit of niobium is that it can operate at higher temperatures than aluminium, which is one of the most common materials used by the Scottish start-up’s global competitors.
Operating from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, the company designs, manufactures and tests the superconducting processors, resonators and sensors that form the core of quantum computers and advanced sensing systems.
The funding round has been co-led by PXN Ventures, Blackfinch Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, with investment also coming from Quantum Exponential and the Smart Things Accelerator Centre (Stac).
Beyond computing applications, Quantcore’s quantum sensors enable secure communications and very high levels of accuracy in medical imaging that existing technology cannot achieve.
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Jack Brennan, co-founder and chief executive of Quantcore, said: “This technology is extremely powerful. One of the main features of quantum computers is that they will be really good at cracking codes. So, as a country, you have to ask: do you want to wait until other countries have this capability, or do you want to get there first?
“The world is not what it was. If you want this technology, which you do, you need to be able to manufacture it domestically so you can control every part of it. That’s what we’re building from Scotland.”
The investment follows the UK government’s pledge to invest £670m into quantum computing as part of its ten-year modern industrial strategy, with the global quantum computing market projected to reach more than $20 billion (£15bn) by 2030.
Quantcore was founded last August by Brennan, Valentino Seferai, Wridhdhisom Karar and Martin Weides, and recently spun out from the University of Glasgow. The company was also part of the first cohort of deep tech start-ups to take part in the university’s Infinity G accelerator programme, led by the Smart Things Accelerator Centre.
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