On Friday 5 December, the UK Department for Science and Innovation (DSIT) announced £8 million of backing for research and technology firm Fraunhofer’s Glasgow site, alongside a new agreement for leading institutes to collaborate on quantum standards. The announcement comes as part of the UK and Germany’s plans to work more closely together to unlock the vast potential of quantum technology.
The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) has delivered more than 300 projects for over 200 industrial partners since its creation in 2012. It works alongside the University of Strathclyde through a formal joint appointment with its Institute of Photonics and a number of strategic collaborative projects.
The renewed support will see £8 million invested in world-leading research and development at the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow, accelerating growth by helping UK businesses bring new quantum products to market.
Simon Andrews, executive director of Fraunhofer UK Research, said:
“We are extremely pleased to accept this important support from the UK Government. Over the last nine years, backing from Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise has been invaluable.
In the last year alone, our team delivered more than £6 million of applied R&D projects for industry. This new funding will enable us to meet growing demand for our expertise in photonics and quantum technologies.”
Lord Vallance, UK Science Minister, commented on the importance of this support:
“To unlock the potential of quantum – which will bring transformative benefits to fields like encryption, navigation and medicine – we are relying on cutting-edge photonics. The funding we are announcing for Fraunhofer’s world-class centre in Glasgow will cement the UK’s place as one of the global leaders in the development of this crucial technology.”