SCIENTIST AWARDED £2.5M TO ADVANCE QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS

A scientist at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, has today (Thurs 1 Dec) been awarded £2.5 million from the Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies programme.

Professor Mehul Malik is harnessing the mysterious properties of quantum entanglement to develop new quantum network technologies capable of delivering the most secure form of communication and making it almost impossible for cyber-criminals to access highly sensitive data in the future.

Key to its success is the ability to utilise what is known as quantum entanglement. This is when two particles, such as light photons, remain strongly connected over enormous distances.

While this technology offers unconditional data security, it is notoriously susceptible to background interference, known as noise. This can include weather or signal loss in a communications network that jeopardise the security of a quantum network.

To counter this, Professor Malik and his team are developing advanced methods to control the quantum structure of light in space and time.

Professor Malik explains: "My research aims to harness these high-dimensional properties of light to maximise the information capacity of a quantum network and simultaneously enable it to operate in a noisy, real-world environment.

"With support from project partners BT Group and the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, my 10-year research programme is poised to take fundamental advances developed in my lab and translate them to technologies that will have a direct impact on our modern society."

Professor Malik is one of only four academics in the UK to be recognised through the Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies programme to lead on developing emerging technologies with high potential to deliver economic and social benefits.

Funded by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the scheme aims to identify global research visionaries and provide them with long-term support. Each £2,500,000 award covers employment and research costs, enabling researchers to focus on advancing their technology over a period of up to 10 years.

Giving his reaction to the award, Professor Malik said he was 'incredibly honoured' adding: "The sustained 10-year support provided by the Academy is an esteemed endorsement of my research programme on quantum technology.

"To be recognised in this way is a privilege but also underlines the enormous potential of the technology I am developing to benefit our society in the near future.

"We have made tremendous strides in fundamental quantum science in recent years and I am particularly excited about the opportunities offered by the Royal Academy of Engineering to help us translate this work into disruptive applications."

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: "I am truly delighted that we are able to support these four outstanding engineers and visionary individuals who will champion these emerging technologies and the significant opportunities they offer to make the world a better place for everyone.

"The Academy places huge importance on supporting excellence in engineering and sometimes the key to engineers fulfilling their potential in tackling global challenges is the gift of time and continuity of support to bring the most disruptive and impactful ideas to fruition."

More information:
1. For more information about Prof. Malik and his work visit: bbqlab.org/

2. The Academy's Chair in Emerging Technologies scheme aims to identify global research visionaries and provide them with long-term support to lead on developing emerging technology areas with high potential to deliver economic and social benefit to the UK.
3. For media enquiries or media requests please contact the University media team via mediaenquiries@hw.ac.uk

4. About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a global, research-led university with more than 27,000 students from 160 countries across five campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia.

We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences—subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.

86.8% of Heriot-Watt's research is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021—the
UK's system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers.

Heriot-Watt was founded in Edinburgh in 1821 as the world's first mechanics institute. In 1966, it became a university by Royal Charter. The university is named after Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot.

We run 113 undergraduate programmes and 170 postgraduate programmes across five academic schools:

• Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Mathematical and Computer Sciences
• Social Sciences—incorporating Edinburgh Business School
• Textiles and Design

Website: www.hw.ac.uk/

5. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we're growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we're working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Provided by Heriot-Watt University