King's College London

A new London Quantum Technology Cluster will bring together King’s College London, UCL, and Imperial College London with businesses, communities, government and investors, positioning the capital as a global hub for quantum technology.

Announced at this week’s Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 conference, the cluster is being seeded with a £500,000 investment from the Mayor of London, as part of the city’s long-term economic growth strategy.

The initiative aims to create a thriving ecosystem that will accelerate the commercialisation of quantum research, support startups and spinouts, and deliver tangible benefits for Londoners.

The cluster will lay the foundations for a dedicated incubator to take research in the quantum technology field from idea to market, accelerating the growth of these businesses. Working with researchers at King’s Quantum, and supported by King’s Innovation Catalyst, the move will for the first time build the infrastructure needed to seed, grow, and scale quantum technology spinouts and startups, including access to specialised quantum technology equipment, lab space, and commercialisation and business support.

Professor Anatoly Zayats, King’s Co-Director of the London Centre for Nanotechnology, said "This launch is a pivotal moment for quantum innovation in London. At the London Centre for Nanotechnology, we’re proud to be at the heart of this initiative, which brings together the cutting-edge capabilities of academic research with entrepreneurial ambition.

"By nurturing emerging quantum startups within a collaborative ecosystem, this incubator will accelerate the translation of world-class nanotechnology and quantum research taking place in our institutions into transformative real-world applications."

The cluster builds on the success of the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) - a joint venture between UCL, Imperial, and King’s - and will expand its reach by connecting with national assets like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and international partners across Europe. The initiative also aligns with the UK government’s broader commitment to developing national quantum capabilities.

The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, and quantum is among the high-growth sectors identified in the London Growth Plan, published in February 2025.

The investment has been made possible thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The vision is not only to make London the best place in the world to start and grow a quantum business, but also to serve as a catalyst for regional and international collaboration. By fostering smart specialisation and pan-European supply chains, the cluster aims to amplify the UK’s leadership in quantum and support the growth of similar ecosystems across the country and continent.

Howard Dawber, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, said "Supporting the development of London’s first Quantum Technology Cluster is an exciting moment as it brings together London’s leading universities, businesses, communities and investors to lay the groundwork for the quantum technology sector to thrive in London, and enabling the capital to be at the forefront of frontier innovation.

"As outlined in the London Growth Plan, this is one of our priority high-growth sectors and I’m delighted to announce that the Mayor of London is investing £500,000 to kick-start the development of the Quantum Technology Cluster. We will be partnering with UCL, Imperial and King's to develop the cluster, working to ensure the capital supports cutting-edge innovation that will help build a thriving, fairer, more prosperous London for all."