The Bristol Quantum Information Technologies workshop celebrated its tenth event this year, with a programme including 56 posters (our largest session to date) and 44 speakers and panellists giving talks across a wide range of quantum tech. We took the opportunity to look back on the success of our previous workshops and the progress made in the field of quantum tech.
A precursor to BQIT was the Quantum Photonics Workshop, which was held in the Nanoscience and Quantum Information Building in 2009. This was so successful that we knew we had to continue to provide a platform for world-leading researchers to share their work. With the continued growth of quantum technologies globally, we took the decision to expand the remit to the many technology platforms and applications being pursued, and this tenth edition of BQIT was no different. We had speakers discussing technology platforms ranging from atoms and rare-earth ions through to superconducting qubits and defects in diamond; talks and posters spanning the full gamut of quantum applications including communications, sensing, imaging, computing, and tests of fundamental physical phenomena. We were excited to see what new ideas and areas of overlap come from the discussions that BQIT enables.
Over the years we have worked to ensure that BQIT is as inclusive and accessible as possible, and have learnt a lot from taking BQIT virtual in 2020 and 2021, to hybrid in 2022. This year we continued that tradition and ran our second hybrid conference, allowing those that require it the ability to attend online as well as bringing others together in person. Activities at the workshop included drinks receptions, dinner on the historic SS Great Britain (a BQIT staple!) and a panel discussion on the past and upcoming decades of BQIT and associated quantum technology development.
In keeping with the theme of 'ten years of BQIT', this year's ED&I (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) session focused on exploring how ED&I issues in quantum technologies around the world have evolved over the past ten years, to understand what issues we are currently facing, and to gather suggestions for how to move forward and make progress in the next ten years. An article on this session, including findings from discussions is due to be published in Physics World later this year.
Over the course of ten workshops, BQIT has welcomed 336 speakers and panelists, and 2800+ attendees from around the world. Attendees have presented 350+ posters and attended 20+ networking events across Bristol. BQIT has received support from 38 sponsoring companies, and to date have held five ED&I sessions. We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of those who have joined us over the past ten workshops. This support has ensured the continuing success of BQIT over the years, and will continue to do so for future workshops.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to those of you who attended BQIT:23. It was a pleasure to welcome you to our workshop this year, and we really hope you enjoyed your time with us. A special thank you to the BQIT board for all of their hard work over the year, in particular the tech team (Beth Puzio, Ed Deacon, Angela Stephen and Carrie Weidner) for making it possible for us to run BQIT:23 as a hybrid event. Finally a massive thank you to our sponsors, who allow us to continue to run BQIT each year and help make the event a success.
Videos of all of our talks will be available soon on the QET Labs YouTube channel, and photos from the event will be available on the BQIT website.
We look forward to seeing you again at BQIT:24, taking place Spring 2024. For further information on this, and future, BQIT workshops, you can visit the BQIT website here.