Building the skills and capability for the future UK quantum industry
The NPL Quantum Programme promotes the UK as a driving force for global standardisation and the continued development of new test and evaluation capabilities across the spectrum of quantum technologies.
NPL enabled the skills the UK quantum industry will need for the future by developing:
- 3 joint appointments with UK universities
- 2 apprentices
- Funding 11 PhD students
Quantum capabilities
Creating new ways to measure electrical properties of 2D materials
Gokhan Bakan, Senior Research Scientist, explains what Hall Effect measurement is and how it can be used to investigate the electrical properties of materials, particularly 2D materials in various environments. This has impact in the semiconductor, photovoltaic and touch-sensor industries.
Electrical transport measurements in variable environments
Appointed to key positions in the UK’s quantum landscape


JT Janssen, Chief Scientist, and Olga Kazakova, Fellow, were appointed to key positions in the UK-wide Materials for Quantum Network programme, which was launched to complement the National Quantum Technology Programme.
Read our quantum programmes news story
Scientific highlights
Radiofrequency (RF) magnetometers are sensors that measure and map the strength of the magnetic fields of atoms due to the amplitude of the atomic coherence oscillations. We improved the beam power, stabilisation and control of RF field distribution, enabling the development of sensor calibration and detection of material defects in a manufacturing situation.
Quantum noise models are critical for error mitigation and correction in quantum computing. By using techniques from uncertainty quantification and trustworthy AI, we were able to arrive at a minimal noise model that can accurately model experimental results and providing uncertainty. This work is essential to the evaluation the performance of quantum computers.
Advancing materials science for detecting defects in quantum circuit
NPL scientists, in collaboration with international experts, developed a new method for revealing the structure and chemistry of surface spins causing defects in quantum circuits. This allows us to investigate the impact of chemical treatments and establish processes that reduce the amount of defects detected. This is an essential step in the progress toward large-scale quantum computing.
Read our quantum computing news story
Shaping the realisation of novel ferroelectric memory with the University of Manchester
Demonstrating the existence of ferroelectric behaviour in bi-layer Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) shows a potential avenue towards room temperature electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor devices with built-in ferroelectric memory functions. The research, carried out by NPL and the University of Manchester, was published in Nature Nanotechnology.
Read our ferroelectric news story
Awarded IoP President’s Medal for leadership

Professor Sir Peter Knight, Distinguished Visitor and Chair of the NPL Quantum Metrology Institute, was awarded IOP’s 2022 President’s Medal for his leadership and championing of the value of physics and quantum technology to society, nationally and internationally.
Read Sir Peter Knight's news story
Awarded a career development fellowship from EPSRC
Dr Sebastian de Graaf, Senior Research Scientist, was awarded a quantum technologies career development fellowship from EPSRC. He will lead a project to develop a novel instrument essential for understanding the quality of materials used in quantum circuits and computers.
Read our quantum technologies news story