1:00 PM
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Session Chair:

Anke Lohmann Co-Founder and Director Anchored In (United Kingdom)

Anke Lohmann has been involved in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme since its start. She was tasked to set up the Quantum Technologies Special Interest Group in 2014 to bring companies to the programme. She has maintained strong links to the programme and, in particular, focuses on translating the technology into commercial applications. Anke sits on several steering groups and chairs advisory boards.

1:15 PM
Building a Quantum Communications Infrastructure

Martin Schell Executive Director Fraunhofer HHI (Germany)

The European Quantum Flagship and the German QuNET initiative support research on Quantum Communication and strive towards creating a substantial value chain for future quantum communication infrastructures. Within these initiatives, Fraunhofer HHI develops both systems and components, the latter basing on InP and hybrid Quantum PICs. Focus is on the early installation of QKD networks, while being open for later development of quantum repeaters.

After stations at the Tokyo University, the Boston Consulting Group, and Infineon Fiber Optics, Martin Schell now is Director of Fraunhofer HHI. He is CEO of OptecBB and was a board member of EPIC. His research interests focus on Photonic Integrated Circuits, both for quantum and non quantum applications.

1:30 PM
A 158 km-Long Quantum Internet Testbed Connecting Room-Temperature Quantum Memories

Eden Figueroa Associate Professor Stony Brook University (USA)

First-generation long-distance quantum repeater networks require quantum memories capable of interfacing with telecom photons to perform quantum-interference-mediated entanglement generation operations. The ability to demonstrate these interconnections using real-life fiber connections in a long-distance setting is paramount to realize a scalable quantum internet.

Eden Figueroa is an Associate Professor, Stony Brook University. He is jointly appointed between Stony Brook University as faculty and quantum information technology research leader and Brookhaven National Laboratories researcher in the computational sciences initiative in the instrumentation division.

1:45 PM
Recent Quantum Key Distribution Deployments in UK and Europe from an Industrial Perspective

Mirko Pittaluga Research Scientist Toshiba Europe (United Kingdom)

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a promising technology for securing future communications. Over the past thirty years, QKD developed from a theoretical idea to a mature technology that can provide Mbit/s key rates and that can be established over several hundred (up to a few thousand) of kilometres. One of the next challenges for this technology is proving its suitability for real-world operation scenarios. In this talk we will discuss recent QKD deployments executed in UK and Europe by Toshiba in collaboration with other partners, which demonstrate that the development of a stable, high performance, and widespread quantum communication network is in reach with current technology.

Mirko Pittaluga is a researcher at Toshiba Europe Ltd. He is supporting Toshiba's effort to enhance QKD performances over long distance and he recently contributed to establish the first fibre-based QKD link beyond 600 km. His current research focuses on increasing the range and practicality of quantum communications networks.

2:05 PM
The overlap between photonic quantum computing and quantum communications: leading components and developments that advance both

Richard Murray Co-Founder and CEO ORCA Computing (United Kingdom)

It’s well known that most quantum technologies are built from and underpinned by advanced photonic technologies. As these systems reach maturity, there will become more and more opportunity to transfer photonic technologies from one application to another. In this talk, Dr Francis-Jones will describe ORCA Computing’s efforts to take novel components, built to produce very high quality, on demand single photons for photonic quantum computers and apply these to improve quantum communication technologies. Dr Francis-Jones will identify several technologies that ORCA is spinning off to help increase the key rates of QKD, reduce the background noise from daylight and improve and reduce the cost of the quality of detection.

Richard Murray is one of Europe’s foremost experts in the commercialisation of quantum technologies. Richard started and led Innovate UK's activities in quantum technologies: a £32 million innovation programme. Richard's work focused on driving forward a greater understanding of this new sector within business and government, and in creating a UK and European environment which helped companies to prosper. He acted as the 'spokesperson for industry' at the very early stages of the €1Bn EU quantum technologies flagship, and at the UK industry challenge fund for quantum technologies. Richard possesses a rich track record of translating science into real products and services by managing cutting edge scientific teams to deliver results and building sales pipelines to sell early-stage technologies.

2:25 PM
Panel Discussion on Applications and the Role of Photonics in Networks and Communications

Moderator:
Anke Lohmann, Anchored In (United Kingdom)

Panelists:
Eden Figueroa, Stony Brook University (USA)
Richard Murray, ORCA Computing (United Kingdom)
Mirko Pittaluga, Toshiba Europe (United Kingdom)
Martin Schell, Fraunhofer HHI (Germany)