Program
Optica Quantum Summit 2026 Program Agenda
16–17 June 2026,
Glasgow, UK
This schedule is based on
Local Time (GMT + 1)
Monday, 15 June
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Local Time |
Event |
Location |
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18:00 |
Joint Welcome Reception Joint Welcome Reception with Quantum 2.0 |
Hall 1 |
DAY 1
Tuesday, 16 June
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Local Time |
Event |
Location |
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8:00-9:00 |
Networking Breakfast |
Hall 1 |
Registration opens at Scottish Events Campus
Glasgow, UK
Joint Keynote Session with Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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9:15-10:00 |
Joint Keynote Session |
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Lomond Auditorium |
| Joint Keynote |
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| 10:00-10:30 | Coffee Break | Hall 2 (Exhibit Hall) |
Session 1: End-User Perspective
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Speakers will discuss real-world requirements for quantum computing, communications, and sensing across aerospace, telecommunications, and enterprise networks. The panel will explore how end users evaluate emerging solutions, balance performance with integration challenges, and work with technology providers to align roadmaps. Attendees will gain valuable insight into the business drivers, application opportunities, and procurement considerations shaping the demand side of the quantum ecosystem. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
| 10:30-12:00 | Speakers | Boisdale 1 & 2 | |
| Welcome & Opening Remarks |
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| Keynote |
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12:00-13:15 |
Lunch |
Networking |
Hall 1 |
Session 2: Photonic Quantum Computing
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Speakers will explore advances in single-photon sources, integrated photonic circuits, and error correction strategies, as well as progress toward full-stack photonic quantum systems. The session will also address commercialization pathways, from cloud-based quantum access to industry-specific applications, and examine how photonic platforms can integrate with other quantum technologies. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of where photonic quantum computing stands today, the engineering challenges ahead, and the opportunities for early adopters. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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13:15-15:15 |
Speakers |
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Boisdale 1 & 2 |
| Keynote |
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| Keynote |
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| 15:15-16:00 | Coffee Break | Hall 2 (Exhibit Hall) | |
Session 3: Enabling Technologies for Quantum
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Behind every quantum breakthrough lies a suite of enabling technologies that make it possible to prepare, manipulate, and measure quantum states with precision. This session brings together innovators to showcase the critical components and tools driving progress across the quantum ecosystem. Speakers will discuss advances in single-photon sources, ultra-low-noise detectors, time-tagging electronics, quantum-safe cryptography, and laser-based nanofabrication. The panel will explore how these technologies integrate into diverse quantum platforms—from photonics and trapped ions to superconductors—and the role of supply chain collaboration in scaling quantum solutions. Attendees will come away with a deeper appreciation of the often-unseen innovations that underpin quantum research, development, and commercialization. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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16:00-17:15 |
Speakers |
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Boisdale 1 & 2 |
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Session 4: Intellectual Property and Investor Perspective
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As quantum technologies move closer to commercial reality, intellectual property (IP) and investment strategy are becoming tightly intertwined. This session will open with an expert overview of the IP landscape—covering patent strategies, freedom to operate, licensing models, and how companies can protect and position their innovations in a rapidly evolving field. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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17:15-18:45 |
Speakers |
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Boisdale 1 & 2 |
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| 18:45 | Departure for Dinner Reception | Clydeside Distillery | |
DAY 2
Wednesday, 17June
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Location |
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8:15-9:00 |
Networking Breakfast |
Hall 1 |
Session 5: Leading Qubit Platforms Beyond Photonics
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While photonic qubits are attracting significant attention, many of today’s most advanced quantum processors rely on non-photonic approaches - ranging from trapped ions and neutral atoms to superconducting circuits and novel emerging platforms. This session features experts representing these approaches to provide a comprehensive view of progress across these leading architectures. Speakers will discuss recent advances in scaling qubit numbers, improving coherence times, enhancing gate fidelities, and integrating error correction. They will also examine how photonics—through optical control, readout, and long-distance entanglement distribution—is becoming an essential enabler for scaling these platforms beyond the confines of a single cryostat or vacuum chamber. This includes integrated photonic delivery of laser light for trapped ions and neutral atoms, and microwave-to-optical transduction for superconducting and emerging topological qubits. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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9:00-10:15 |
Speakers |
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Boisdale 1 & 2 |
| Keynote |
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| 10:15-11:00 | Coffee Break | Hall 2 (Exhibit Hall) | |
Session 6: Quantum Sensing and Timing
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Quantum sensing and timing are among the earliest quantum technologies to transition from the laboratory into real-world deployment, with applications spanning navigation, communications, defence, and critical infrastructure. This session brings together technology developers, system integrators, and enabling platform providers to explore how these systems are moving toward practical, scalable use. Speakers will share insights across the value chain—from ultrastable laser systems and atomic platforms to integrated sensing architectures and advanced microfabrication techniques. The discussion will examine the challenges of translating high-performance laboratory systems into robust, field-deployable technologies, including size, weight and power constraints, environmental stability, manufacturability, and system integration. Panelists will also explore the role of photonics in enabling next-generation quantum sensors and optical clocks, and how collaboration across the ecosystem is accelerating progress. Attendees will gain a comprehensive view of the current state of quantum sensing and timing, where the near-term opportunities lie, and what is required to scale these technologies into impactful commercial and industrial applications. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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11:00-12:00 |
Speakers |
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Boisdale 1 & 2 |
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| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch | Hall 1 | |
Session 7: The Quantum Chip Foundry and Materials Perspective
Session 8: Quantum Networking Hardware
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As quantum systems scale, the ability to connect, distribute, and store quantum information is becoming a defining challenge for the industry. This session brings together leading innovators working across quantum networking, memory, and interconnect technologies to explore how we move from isolated processors to connected quantum systems. Speakers will share perspectives spanning entanglement distribution, quantum memories, photonic interconnects, and network architectures. The session will explore the technical and system-level challenges of building scalable quantum networks, including loss, synchronisation, interfacing between platforms, and the integration of quantum memory with communication links. It will also examine how these technologies can enable distributed quantum computing, secure communications, and new classes of quantum-enabled infrastructure. Attendees will gain insight into how the ecosystem is evolving from point-to-point demonstrations toward deployable quantum networking systems, and what is required to build reliable, scalable, and commercially viable quantum interconnects. |
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Local Time |
Speakers |
Job title & Affiliation |
Location |
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14:00-15:00 |
Speakers |
Boisdale 1 & 2 | |
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| 15:00-15:45 | Coffee Break | Hall 2 (Exhibit Hall) | |
