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Enterprise Fellowships to kick-start the quantum technology industry

Press release issued: 21 July 2016

The University of Bristol's Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre (QTEC) is looking to recruit its first cohort of Enterprise Fellows that will be the next generation of quantum technology entrepreneurs.

Merging training in systems thinking, quantum engineering and entrepreneurship, QTEC will provide the necessary skills for budding innovators to develop their own business ideas and for them to branch out into the emerging field of quantum technologies.

The Centre, which is the first of its kind in the world, was funded as part of the UK's £270 million investment into quantum technologies. These technologies exploit the laws of quantum mechanics to create practical and useful technologies that will outperform their classical rivals and that have the potential to transform artificial intelligence, healthcare, energy, finance, cyber security and the internet.

Professor Mark Thompson, Director of QTEC and the EPSRC Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training, said: "This programme is a significant addition to the innovation and enterprise momentum already underway at the University of Bristol and will enable us to extend our lead in the development and exploitation of quantum technologies.

"Quantum engineering will help us develop revolutionary technologies which will alter the way our world works. We have designed this programme to ensure our Fellows go on to become the future CTOs and CEOs of leading quantum technology businesses."

QTEC Fellows will receive a salary of £28,000 and a desk in the QTEC incubator space. All fellows are eligible to apply for QTEC starter funds to support their commercialisation activities, with a total annual available fund of £200k. Additional support includes incubation space, commercial support, technical support, mentoring and coaching from top entrepreneurs, together with access to specialist events and seminars.

Applications are currently open for the October 2016 intake. Potential Fellows are requested to send in a short three minute video pitch about an idea for a business showing their passion for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship around novel technologies. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend Bristol’s open day on Friday 29 July 2016.  Registration is available via Eventbrite.

QTEC partners world-leading academics from the University of Bristol's Quantum Engineering Technology Labs (QET Labs) and Systems Centre with the internationally renowned Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship at Cranfield University. The centre has an extensive network of partners, including the UK National Network of Quantum Technology Hubs, SETSquared Partnership and Engine Shed, as well as other academic and industrial partners including Microsoft, HP, IBM and Google. At the end of the programme, Fellows will have the opportunity to pitch their business plans to an advisory board of entrepreneurs and angel investors from industry leaders in emerging technologies. 

Further information

About the Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre

The Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre was announced in March as part the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) £9 million investment in the University of Bristol's Quantum Engineering Technology Labs (QETLabs).

The £4.4 million centre will train a new generation of postdoctoral quantum engineers. Building upon the University's already successful EPSRC Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training, QTEC will partner with Cranfield University's Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship to create a world-leading hub to train entrepreneurially-minded quantum engineers ready for a career in the emerging quantum technology industry. 

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