Completed Hub · 2019 to 2024
EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub
The phase 2 national hub for quantum communications, led by the University of York. The hub's work ran from 2019 to 2024.
Role: Lead
Funding: £23.5m
Themes: Communications, Networks
University of York
University · York
The University of York hosted the national Quantum Communications Hub for a decade (2014 to 2024), which concentrated on quantum key distribution and built out the UK Quantum Network (UKQN). Phase 2 alone carried £23.5m of government funding, with BT, ID Quantique and Teledyne e2v among its industrial partners. York researchers went on to build the continuous-variable source payload for SPOQC, the CubeSat launched on 30 March 2026 under the Heriot-Watt-led Integrated Quantum Networks Hub. In August 2026 the team reported drawing certified random numbers from the payload's engineering model.
University of York is a university in York with three quantum projects in this directory. It leads 1 UK project (EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub) and is a partner in 2 more.
Sources: About the Hub | Quantum Communications Hub · UK Launches SPOQC Satellite for Quantum Communications Research | The Quantum Insider · York team tested quantum keys on the SPOQC mission | Quantum Zeitgeist
Projects (3)
Leads (1)
Partner in (2)
- Active Collaboration · 2026 onwards
Satellite Platform for Optical Quantum Communications
SPOQC
A UK CubeSat mission to test quantum key distribution between a satellite and a ground station in Edinburgh.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
- Active Hub · 2024 to 2029
Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Research Hub
IQN
A national research hub building quantum networks, from local links to satellite connections. Heriot-Watt University leads it.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Networks, Communications
In the news
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention University of York.
Fusion energy research gets a boost from new transatlantic links, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Transatlantic partnership signed to accelerate fusion energy transatlantic partnership fusion Transatlantic partnership signed to accelerate fusion energy Posted on Wednesday 23 September 2026 Higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom have established a transatlantic
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Researchers Find Faster Spin Information Transfer with Long-Range Links, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Information now traverses complex spin networks more rapidly than previously thought possible without extensive system design. Lowering the power-law exponent α within these systems confines excitation to fewer energy states, unexpectedly accelerating information transfer. This reveals an inherent p
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
University of York Team Defines Limits of Quantum Superposition, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
No extension of the Quantum Tensor Product admits a Superposition principle. Until now, defining superposition relied on complex mathematical structures rather than direct experimental observation. This work establishes operational ‘superposition principles’ rooted in prepare-and-measure experiments
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
York team tested quantum keys on the SPOQC mission, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Researchers at the University of York tested quantum random number generation using the continuous-variable payload on the SPOQC mission, published August 7, 2026.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- University of York (york.ac.uk)
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