Pioneering London Quantum Technology Cluster launched with support from City Hall

Announced at this week’s Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 conference, the cluster is being seeded with a £500,000 investment from the Mayor of London, as part of the city’s long-term economic growth strategy. 

The initiative aims to create a thriving ecosystem that will accelerate the commercialisation of quantum research, support startups and spinouts, and deliver tangible benefits for Londoners. 

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost Research, Innovation and Global Engagement, said: “The launch of the London Quantum Technology Cluster is a landmark moment for UCL and our partners.  We have been inspired by the work of other clusters not only around us in London but across the world and see great potential for further international collaborations that drive forward scientific discovery, economic growth, and societal impact.” 

The cluster will lay the foundations for a dedicated incubator to take research in the quantum technology field from idea to market, accelerating the growth of these businesses. 

Leveraging the already-thriving centres of innovation in places like Euston within the Knowledge Quarter, the QEOP Innovation District and White City Innovation District, the move will for the first time build the infrastructure needed to seed, grow, and scale quantum technology spinouts and startups. This will include access to specialised quantum technology equipment, lab space, and commercialisation and business support. 

The cluster builds on the success of the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) - a joint venture between UCL, Imperial, and King’s - and will expand its reach by connecting with national assets like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and international partners across Europe. The initiative also aligns with the UK government’s broader commitment to developing national quantum capabilities. 

UCL’s Strategic Innovation Partnerships team will lead the cluster’s development on behalf of the consortium partners, as well as curating its quantum innovation ecosystem. 

Professor Alan Thompson, UCL Pro-Provost for London, added: “We are proud to be part of a coalition that not only advances cutting-edge science but also ensures that its benefits are shared widely. By anchoring this cluster in our home borough of Camden and working with local partners, we aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, and to build a sustainable, inclusive future for the city.” 

The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, and quantum is among the high-growth sectors identified in the London Growth Plan that was published in February 2025. The plan outlines a vision to grow London’s economy by £107 billion by 2035 and create 150,000 good jobs by 2028, with quantum playing a central role in driving productivity growth and innovation.

Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, Howard Dawber, said: "Supporting the development of London’s first Quantum Technology Cluster is an exciting moment as it brings together London’s leading universities, businesses, communities and investors to lay the groundwork for the quantum technology sector to thrive in London, and enabling the capital to be at the forefront of frontier innovation. 

"As outlined in the London Growth Plan, this is one of our priority high-growth sectors and I’m delighted to announce that the Mayor of London is investing £500,000 to kick-start the development of the Quantum Technology Cluster. We will be partnering with UCL, Imperial and Kings to develop the cluster, working to ensure the capital supports cutting-edge innovation that will help build a thriving, fairer, more prosperous London for all.”

A panel event at the conference on 14 May, moderated by Jason Palmer of The Economist, brought together Dr Will Lovegrove (Director of Strategic Innovation Partnerships, UCL), Professor Mary Ryan (Vice-Provost Research and Enterprise, Imperial College London) and Tom Foulkes (Director of Research Strategy and Performance, King’s College London) to discuss how targeted investment in quantum can unlock long-term value for communities. 

The cluster’s vision is not only to make London the best place in the world to start and grow a quantum business, but also to serve as a catalyst for regional and international collaboration. By fostering smart specialisation and pan-European supply chains, the cluster aims to amplify the UK’s leadership in quantum and support the growth of similar ecosystems across the country and continent. 

On the same day as the panel event, UCL also welcomed Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, and University of Copenhagen Rector Professor David Dreyer Lassen to its Bloomsbury campus. The visit, which included a tour of the LCN and Q-BIOMED (the UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub), highlighted the growing international interest in London’s quantum ambitions and the potential for deeper collaboration between the UK and Denmark across science, innovation, and education. 

It builds on a senior UCL delegation visit to Denmark earlier this year, including visits to the University of Copenhagen, the Lundbeck Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation and Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS.  

The investment has been made possible thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Images

• Main image: Tom Foulkes (King’s), Professor Mary Ryan (Imperial), Howard Dawber, Deputy mayor of London for Business and Growth, Dr Will Lovegrove (UCL) and moderator Jason Palmer (The Economist) at the 2025 Commercialising Quantum Global Conference in London
• Dr Will Lovegrove (UCL), Howard Dawber, Deputy mayor of London for Business and Growth, Professor Mary Ryan (Imperial), and Tom Foulkes (King’s) at the 2025 Commercialising Quantum Global Conference in London
• Members of the teams from across UCL, Imperial and King's who will lead delivery of the new cluster
• Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, led a delegation including University of Copenhagen Rector Professor David Dreyer Lassen to UCL's Bloomsbury campus this week 
• The Danish delegation toured the London Centre for Nanotechnology as part of their visit

Links

• London Centre for Nanotechnology 
• Q-BIOMED 
• Quantum research hub for healthcare is launched 
• UCL strengthens partnerships in Europe with new agreements and collaborations 
• UCL Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences 
• UCL Strategic Innovation Partnerships 
• Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 conference 
• International Year of Quantum  

Media contact

Sophie Vinter

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 7787

Email: s.vinter [at] ucl.ac.uk