Multi-million pound grant awarded to research secure communication technologies

Royal Holloway, University of London, and seven other leading universities have announced the creation of a new collaboration to develop secure communication technologies for consumer, commercial and government markets.

As part of a £120 million investment, revealed today by the Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Greg Clark, the Quantum Communications Hub will research how the laws of quantum physics can be harnessed to create new and affordable technologies and services.

The Quantum Communications Hub is one of four new hubs across the UK, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which were announced as part of the Chancellor George Osborne's investment in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.

The unique collaboration will bring together world-leading academics from Royal Holloway's Information Security Group (ISG) and the Department of Physics with researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Bristol, Leeds, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt and York.

Professor Kenny Paterson, from the Information Security Group at Royal Holloway, said: "The funding for the Quantum Communications Hub cements Royal Holloway's reputation for world-changing research and innovation.

"The collaboration of leading researchers is a truly exciting opportunity that will allow Royal Holloway and its partners to transform the security of data and transactions among users such as government departments, industry and the public."

The hub includes strong links to business and public organisations including GCHQ, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), BT, Toshiba, Selex and Kelvin Nanotechnology.

Greg Clark, the Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, said: "This exciting new Quantum Hubs network will push the boundaries of knowledge and exploit new technologies, to the benefit of healthcare, communications and security.

"This investment in Quantum technologies has the potential to bring game-changing advantages to future timing, sensing and navigation capabilities that could support multi-billion pound markets in the UK and globally. Today's announcement is another example of the Government's recognition of the UK's science base and its critical contribution to our sustained economic growth."

Provided by Royal Holloway, University of London