Accelerating Frontier Technologies Through Emerging Research Leaders.
Overview
Industry has identified a critical challenge: defining the silicon photonics platforms in the UK needed to enable scalable quantum communications and sensing technologies.
Solving this challenge demands fresh thinking at the intersection of disciplines, bringing together diverse expertise to unlock new possibilities. Yet many emerging researchers lack the networks, industry connections and leadership opportunities needed to turn ambitious ideas into transformative innovation.
C-PIC Future Leaders, delivered in partnership with the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub (IQN) and the Quantum Biomedical Sensing Hub (QBioMed), is designed to overcome these barriers, providing the funding and support to empower the next generation of research leaders to forge new collaborations and develop ambitious, industry-informed solutions using silicon photonics.
The Challenge
Silicon photonics has long been touted as a leading candidate for building scalable quantum systems. In 2026, the boom that silicon photonics has experienced in AI infrastructure has shone a brighter light on the ability of silicon photonics to deliver manufacturability and performance at scale.
But significant challenges remain; many of which are exaggerated in the quantum realm. For example, quantum technologies require minimising photon losses, both in waveguide propagation and in fibre-to-chip coupling. Many quantum applications could benefit from improved polarisation control, which is currently a significant design and fabrication challenge. Also, quantum technologies often require the use of wavelengths outside of the traditional telecoms bands, meaning alternative platforms to SOI are required.
What is it about bringing together silicon photonics, quantum comms and quantum biosensing that demands exploration?
Simply put, we anticipate that the technology platform requirements will be highly compatible, likely to be silicon nitride based and capable of supporting visible wavelengths. This combination of applications will help gather detailed end-user requirements to collaboratively build a cross-functional quantum platform that will be made available open-access to the research community to support your research goals.
What is possible if we were to develop these platforms together?
Together, we can build the platform upon which the future of scalable quantum comms and quantum biosensing is realised.
The collaborative approach ensures that the technology meets the requirements of researchers like you in these fields and that individual team specialisations contribute to a coherent technology roadmap. Participating teams will collectively define end-user requirements in consultation with quantum technology stakeholders, co-develop design specifications with the C-PIC team, and then concentrate their funded activity on their designated technical specialism.
Projects will be structured around three funded awards of £250k each, a scale that necessarily constrains scope to addressable technical problems rather than systemic challenges.
Industry has set the challenges. We have brought together the funding, partnerships and support needed to tackle it.
Now we need the people.
You are ...
A researcher, technician, industry professional, clinician, or policy stakeholder, working in the field of:
- Quantum science
- Materials engineering
- Photonic integration
- Biological sciences
- A sensing or communications application area
If you’re a researcher or technician, you’re likely to be early to mid-career stage (ECMR)—typically Affiliate / Associate Professor level or equivalent. And you’re ready to bridge disciplines and create solutions together.
You’ve got ...
- An interesting technical challenge you want to solve in quantum communications or sensing
- A concept on paper that you’d like to prototype
- A promising solution that needs to become industry-compatible and scalable
We are ...
The CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC). We are an open-source, licence-free silicon photonics prototyping foundry and innovation hub, hosted by the University of Southampton, University of Glasgow, and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Our mission is to build a pipeline of silicon photonics enabled companies serving multiple industry sectors by 2030.
Our diverse team of experts brings together deep technical knowledge and a passion for developing next-generation photonic solutions. That’s why we’ve partnered on this programme with the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub (IQN) and the Quantum Biomedical Sensing Hub (QBioMed) – to use silicon photonics to accelerate frontier technologies: quantum technologies, advanced connectivity and engineering biology.
We’ve got ...
- Funding for 3 x ECMR-led collaborative projects totalling £750,000
- Training and support for future research leaders
- A flexible silicon photonics prototyping foundry
C-PIC Future Leaders is a structured programme that builds the skills, networks and teams needed to shape the next generation of silicon photonics platforms for scalable quantum technologies.
Programme Timeline
September–November: Building Towards Innovation | Online Training & Networking
Kickstart your Future Leadership journey with webinars and online networking to you help you build connections and develop the skills to craft compelling bids.
11 November | Scoping Workshop (In-person, Wellcome Trust, London)
Join us in London to refine the questions that matter most for the sandpit, identify gaps in current thinking and lay the foundations for impactful new research partnerships.
12–14 January 2027 | Mini-Sandpit (In-person, De Vere Horsley Estate)
An immersive three-day workshop, facilitated by Knowinnovation, bringing together researchers, industry, and expert mentors to form EMCR-led interdisciplinary teams. Develop targeted research propositions and pitch ideas for a share of £750k in funding.
Why participate?
- Compete for up to £250,000 in flexible project funding
- Build new interdisciplinary collaborations
- Turn research concepts into prototypes
- Engage directly with industry
- Develop leadership experience as an emerging researcher
- Help shape the future of frontier technology research in the UK
- Join a long-term community of innovators and collaborators
How do I apply?
Register your expression of interest to participate in any aspect of the programme.
The online programme of training and networking is open to everyone with an interest in the challenge area, regardless of whether you intend to apply to the scoping workshop or mini-sandpit.
Places for the two in-person events are limited:
- Scoping workshop: 60 people
- Sandpit: 30 people
We will select participants from the expressions of interest based on research area, role type and other characteristics solicited in the application. Our aim is to achieve a balanced range of diverse disciplinary experience and expertise.