Establishing the Need - Finding the future market for UK photon sources

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A number of unique and potentially disruptive quantum based technologies are emerging from the UK Quantum Technologies Programme. The potential applications for these devices span a diverse range of sectors which defies a broad approach to identifying the market for them. The four main sectors where impact is expected are reflected in the national quantum technology hubs - imaging, sensors and metrology, computing and communications and it is expected that the establishment of viable commercial infrastructure in quantum engineering will be based on these themes. Many companies seeking to engage commercially with this technology have yet to see where the emerging technology fits with their own business strategy and this can discourage early adoption. Currently, each lab discovery that presents a commercial opportunity must be looked at on a case by case basis for its market potential and often with a technology push rather than market pull approach. It can be difficult for larger companies to see where this may fit into their supply chain and the volume of sales that these technologies might achieve, and so crucial early investment in start up or spin out technology is stifled.At the laboratory and technology transfer office level within the quantum technology hubs there is an excellent understanding of where a device may make an impact but it is often difficult to identify other models and markets of interest. This project will instigate an independent market research study guided by the technology available and linking it, via a large manufacturing supplier of optoelectronic components, to the sectors and end users where it is most likely to gain commercial traction. The project will identify the largest market opportunities and the specific technologies that should be invested in.Photonic sources are interesting to Gooch and Housego (GH) as an optoelectronics supplier and GH would like to identify the potential market and model for this technology. The Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre (QTEC) has been working with Milner Strategic Marketing (MSM) on developing a business model for single photon sources and MSM is in a position to apply this approach to the national programme. Thus far QTEC has engaged with potential customers and end users of entangled photon sources in the bioimaging and life sciences sectors. Apart from using photon sources as a quantum research laboratory tool, some promising applications have been identified in microscopy and biology. It is envisaged that this approach will form a database of usable technology and workable business models available across the programme and that this can be expanded to work for other emerging technologies within the quantum hubs.