The UK needs quantum engineers who can turn fundamental physics into working devices—and this centre aims to train them. The emerging quantum technology industry faces a skills gap. Companies need people who can move from abstract theory to building practical, miniaturised systems, while also managing budgets, deadlines, and interdisciplinary teams. Current university training often doesn't bridge that gap. This Centre for Doctoral Training, designed with input from dozens of academic and industry partners, will create a new type of training programme that does. If successful, the centre will produce a steady stream of graduates who can design and build the next generation of quantum sensors, computers, and communication systems. These technologies could eventually improve medical imaging, make navigation more precise, and secure data networks. The programme also aims to strengthen the UK’s position in the global quantum industry, attracting top students and feeding skilled engineers into companies that will build the hardware and software behind these advances.
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We aim to grow the world's leading centre for training in quantum engineering for the emerging quantum technology (QT) industry. We have designed this CDT in collaboration with a large number of academic and industry experts, and included as partners those who will add substantially to the training and cohort experience. Through this process a consistent picture of what industry wants in future quantum engineers emerged: people who can tackle the hardest intellectual challenges, recognising the end goal of their research, with an ability to move from fundamental physics towards the challenges of engineering and miniaturising practical systems, who understands the capabilities of other people (and why they are useful). Industry wants people with good decision-making, communication and management skills, with the ability to work across discipline boundaries (to a deadline and a budget!) and build interdisciplinary teams, with the ability to translate a problem from one domain to another. Relevant work experience, knowledge of entrepreneurship, industrial R&D operations and business practices are essential. By forming a hub of unrivalled international excellence in quantum information and photonics, surrounded by world-class expertise in all areas of underpinning science and technology and the scientific and technological application areas of QT, and a breadth of academic and industry partners, we will deliver a new type of training: quantum engineering. Bristol has exceptional international activity in the areas that surround the hub: from microelectronics and high performance computing to system engineering and quantum chemistry. The programme will be delivered in an innovative way-focussing particularly on cohort learning-and assessed by a variety of different means, some already in existence in Bristol. We believe that we are attempting something new and exciting that has the potential to attract and train the best students to ensure that the resulting capacity is world-class, thus providing real benefits to the UK economy.
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