Lancaster University has highlighted its innovation in quantum science and technology with three stands at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase in London.

These included the university spinouts Quinas Technology and Photarix plus Quantum Innovation Lancaster, a cross-disciplinary platform designed to accelerate the translation of quantum research and development into real-world applications.

The UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase is a worldwide celebration of quantum science and technology commercialisation with over 110 exhibitors and more than 3000 attendees.

The event brought together industry, academia, investors and policymakers to highlight how quantum is accelerating its commercial impact and adoption, transforming technologies and reshaping UK and global markets.

The Showcase was held in collaboration with Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme (UKNQTP).

Supported by Innovate UK and working with leading research and industry partners worldwide, Quinas is advancing ULTRARAM™ computer memory for AI, in-memory computing and secure low-power applications, positioning the UK at the forefront of future memory technology.

The company has received multiple global awards for innovation, including being 2025 winners in the prestigious World Intellectual Property Organisation Global Awards, the (joint) first UK company ever to do so.

ULTRARAM™ inventor Physics Professor Manus Hayne, who is also Chief Scientific Officer at Quinas said: “Quinas has exhibited at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase every year since our incorporation in 2023 and were delighted to be joined by Quantum innovation Lancaster and Photarix at this year’s showcase. Having such a strong Lancaster presence at the event demonstrates that when we say, ‘quantum innovation’, we mean business.”

Recent Lancaster University spinout Photarix is pioneering secure communications in the quantum era.

Current encryption methods for banking, messaging and data storage are vulnerable to quantum computing. One promising solution is quantum key distribution (QKD), a super-secure way to encrypt data that makes eavesdropping impossible. The company is developing quantum-ring single-photon light-emitting diodes (QR SPLEDs), a new type of light source that overcomes some of the biggest challenges in making QKD practical.

The company grew out of Physics research by PhD student Gizem Acar Tekin who is now CEO alongside Professor Manus Hayne as Chief Scientific Officer, Jeremy Gidlow as Executive Chair and Dr Sam Jones as Chief Technical Officer.

CEO Gizem Acar Tekin said: “We were delighted to showcase Photarix at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase this year. For us, it was a great opportunity to share our progress in developing telecom-wavelength single-photon sources. Our work on these devices began at Lancaster, and it was great to show how university-led research can grow into technologies with national and global impact.”

With over 15,000 business and innovation partnerships and £2 billion in annual economic impact, Lancaster combines academic excellence with real-world impact. Earlier this year, Quantum Base became the first ever Lancaster University spin out to float on the London Stock Exchange with its patented Q-ID technology and investment of £4.8M. This won Lancaster University the Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year Award at the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.