Innovative quantum research led by Ulster University’s Dr Amir Farokh Payam has been awarded significant international grant funding, as announced today by the UK-Canada Quantum for Science Research Collaboration.
The allocation of £4 million from the United Kingdom and $4.2 million from Canada (totalling £6.5 million GBP) of grant funding will support ten innovative and collaborative research projects between university researchers in both countries to advance research in quantum communications and quantum sensing and detection.
Dr Farokh Payam, from Ulster University, and Eihab Abdel-Rahman from the University of Waterloo, are leading a project on quantum NV-hBN resonators for advanced sensing applications.
The funding opportunity is run jointly by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the International Science Partnerships Fund, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), as part of the UKRI-NSERC Collaborative Agreement.
The selected projects span a diverse range of quantum disciplines, including quantum internet, quantum communication security, and quantum sensors for assessing brain disorders.
Each project has been selected for its potential to support key elements and specific missions of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy and the UK National Quantum Strategy.
Peer-review process
The ten successful projects were selected through a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring that only the most promising and impactful research proposals received funding. The grant recipients will have the opportunity to work closely with their international counterparts, sharing knowledge and resources to achieve their collective research goals.
This joint funding initiative is part of the ongoing partnership between UKRI and NSERC to promote the excellence in science and innovation, support cutting-edge research and training, and share quantum expertise between UK and Canadian research communities.
Both organisations are committed to supporting high-quality research that addresses global challenges and drives economic growth.
Dr Amir Farokh Payam, Ulster University Funding Winner, said:
“The UK-Canada Quantum for Science Research Collaborations, supported by EPSRC and STFC, offer a unique opportunity for Ulster University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Swansea to develop advanced quantum sensors. This transformative work aims to enhance sensitivity and precision across applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and materials science. Our collaboration combines cutting-edge expertise and innovation to tackle critical challenges and unlock new possibilities in these impactful fields.”
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UKRI, said:
“This partnership is exemplary of the ways in which UK-Canada collaboration continues to support pioneering research and innovation. By combining and sharing our resources and expertise, this funding will enable researchers to use quantum technology to develop innovative solutions that have huge potential across societies and economies globally.”
Professor Alejandro Adem, NSERC President, said:
“NSERC is proud to support the UK-Canada Quantum for Science Research Collaboration, advancing cutting-edge research in quantum technologies. This initiative highlights the importance of international partnerships in driving scientific innovation and supporting Canada’s National Quantum Strategy.”
Other supported projects:
- Quantum Sensors for biophysical modelling of brain function at the University of Nottingham and University of Toronto
- New two-dimensional material platforms for nanoscale quantum sensing at the University of Bath and INRS
- Quantum network applications in theory and practice, at the University of Cambridge and University of Waterloo
- Dynamic Metropolitan-Scale Entanglement Distribution Networks and Beyond at the University of Bristol and University of Toronto
- ReQON: Reconfigurable Quantum Optical Networking at Durham University and The University of British Columbia
- Quantum-enhanced sensing with atoms and molecules, at Durham University and University of Waterloo
- MICROQ: Microcombs for Quantum Networking and Synchronisation at Loughborough University and INRS
- Low-index Quantum Optics (LexQuO) at Heriot-Watt University and INRS
- Coherent Optimisation and Magnon Manipulation for Information Transfer (COMMIT) at the University of Glasgow and University of Manitoba