World Quantum Day: the role of investment in scaling the UK’s quantum ecosystem

The UK has spent a decade building world-class quantum foundations. The next challenge is ensuring the investment is there to turn that foundation into a globally competitive quantum sector. 

Join techUK for World Quantum Day as we tackle the critical question: how do we get quantum investment right to ensure the UK holds its ground in an increasingly competitive global landscape? 

With up to £2 billion recently announced by the Government for quantum technologies, the scale of the commitment is clear. But investment alone is not enough. We need the right investment, deployed strategically, to ensure the UK's most promising quantum companies have what they need to scale domestically. 

This event brings together investors, founders, and policymakers for a candid conversation about what it really takes to secure the UK's quantum future. 

This event will explore: 

• Why quantum companies are seen as hard to fund, and why that should not be the case 

• How better alignment of public and private capital can drive quantum growth 

• The commercial landscape across quantum computing, sensing, and communications 

• Where the UK sits in an increasingly competitive global quantum ecosystem 

Why attend? 

• Hear firsthand from the VCs, founders, and policymakers navigating these challenges every day 

• Leave with a clearer picture of the commercial opportunities across quantum technologies and what geopolitical shifts mean for the UK 

• Connect with the investors and decision-makers shaping the UK's quantum future 

Confirmed speakers

 Agenda

10:00AM | techUK Welcome 

Intro to techUK, our quantum programme, and World Quantum Day campaign

10:05AM | Keynote | Lauren Thomas & Faiyaz Amin, Office for Quantum (DSIT)

10:15AM | Keynote | Costantino Mariella, British Business Bank

10:25-11:05AM | Panel 1 | Getting in early: The case for backing UK quantum startups 

Hear from VC’s, corporate investors, and quantum companies who will unpack why quantum startups are a good bet, the role of public investment in de-risking early-stage investment, and how the UK compares to global competitors. Speakers include: 


Stuart Nicol, Chief Investment Officer - Quantum Exponential 
Jack Brennan, CEO - Quantcore 
Max Beverton-Palmer - NVIDIA

11:05AM | Coffee Break

11:15 - 11:55 AM | Panel 2 | The quantum scale-up challenge: Growth-stage capital in an evolving global landscape 

Growth-stage capital is critical to scale the UK’s quantum ecosystem, but it can be incredibly difficult for quantum companies to access. Prominent VCs and some of the UK’s leading quantum companies will explain what some of the challenges are at the growth stage and how the global landscape impacts the ability to raise. Speakers include: 


Emil Mahjoub, Partner, Planet First Partners 
Professor Rachel Oliver, Professor of Materials Science - Cambridge University & Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Adviser - Porotech 
Maria Maragkou, VP Business Development - Nu Quantum 
Dr Kris Naudts, Founding & Managing Partner - Firgun Ventures

11:55AM | techUK Close

 
Next steps and opportunities to get involved

12:00PM | Lunch & Networking