Research organisation · Glasgow
Fraunhofer CAP, the first Fraunhofer research centre in the UK, opened in Glasgow in 2012 and builds laser and optical systems for industry, including the light sources, detectors and cold-atom parts that quantum devices rely on. It led QT Assemble, a Quantum Technologies Challenge consortium of 13 partners, among them Aegiq, Covesion and INEX Microtechnology, that worked on shrinking and integrating those components. In December 2025 DSIT committed £8 million over four years to the centre, which sits in Strathclyde's Technology and Innovation Centre and also receives core funding from the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics is a Glasgow research organisation. In this directory it leads Fraunhofer CAP and QT Assemble and is a partner in 9 more.
Sources: Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics funding (University of Strathclyde, December 2025) · QT Assemble (Fraunhofer CAP)
Fraunhofer CAP
Fraunhofer's first UK research centre, in Glasgow, with a dedicated unit for lasers and photonics used in quantum technologies.
Role: Lead
Themes: Sensing, Communications, Materials and components
QT Assemble
A three-year Fraunhofer CAP-led consortium to make quantum technology components smaller, more robust and easier to build.
Role: Lead
Themes: Materials and components, Sensing
QEPNT
A national research hub for quantum position, navigation and timing, led by the University of Glasgow. It aims to reduce reliance on satellite signals such as GPS.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Timing and navigation, Sensing, Defence and security
Quantum Sensing Mission Primer
Innovate UK contracts for 14 projects building quantum sensors and position, navigation and timing products, run as phase 1 of the sensing missions.
Role: Partner
Funding: £14m
Themes: Sensing, Timing and navigation, Imaging
MARCONI
A RedWave Labs-led consortium building two UK-made receiver modules for entanglement-based quantum key distribution.
Role: Partner
Funding: £1.5m
Themes: Communications, Networks
A BT-led consortium testing free-space quantum key distribution for short and mid-range links, including 5G and connected vehicles.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
An Arqit-led consortium working on UK manufacture of quantum key distribution payloads for satellites.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
The phase 2 national hub for quantum communications, led by the University of York. The hub's work ran from 2019 to 2024.
Role: Partner
Funding: £23.5m
Themes: Communications, Networks
QuantIC
The phase 2 national hub for quantum imaging, led by the University of Glasgow. Its grant ran from December 2019 to May 2025.
Role: Partner
Funding: £25m
Themes: Imaging, Sensing
QCS
The phase 2 national hub for quantum computing and simulation, led by the University of Oxford. It ran from 2019 to 2024.
Role: Partner
Funding: £27.3m
Themes: Computing, Software and algorithms
Gravity Pioneer
An RSK-led consortium that built and tested a cold-atom gravity sensor for surveying what lies underground.
Role: Partner
Funding: £6m
Themes: Sensing
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics.
Modelling reveals secure key lengths for satellite QKD, accounting for orbital dynamics and detector limits to optimize performance.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
UK and Germany commit £14M to boost quantum technology, focusing on computing, sensors, and navigation systems for future economic growth.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Infleqtion has secured £2.2 million to enhance its neutral atom quantum computer, Sqale, at the National Quantum Computing Centre in Harwell, aiming for a 10 to 100-fold increase in gate execution rates through parallel processing and advanced optical technologies, validated by the National Physical
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
A significant milestone has been reached in the development of quantum technology, with Infleqtion and Thorlabs announcing a new partnership to commercialize Infleqtion’s highly integrated optical fiber collimation package. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate innovation in quantum applicatio
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
All 6 articles mentioning Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics
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