From Westminster to the cleanroom, the Aug/Sep issue of Electro Optics tracks the course of quantum photonics as it moves from lab curiosity to commercial reality in the UK, with built-in rest stops covering updates on smart glasses, power-efficient data centres and topological matter.
The latest issue of Electro Optics has landed, and this time we're diving into the world of quantum photonics. A commercialised quantum future is now closer than ever, and Britain is backing itself to win the race.
Lord Vallance, the UK’s Minister for science, innovation, research and nuclear gave a talk on ‘Backing science, building capability: delivering the UK’s quantum missions’ at Commercialising Quantum Global 2026 (Image: Economist Enterprise)
Britain at a crossroads
Leading the issue, former Foreign Secretary William Hague took to the stage at Commercialising Quantum Global to warn the UK Government must move quickly if Britain is to turn decades of lab-based quantum expertise into a commercial advantage, before international rivals pull ahead. That message was echoed across all sides of the political, academic and industrial divide, as multiple speakers agreed the sector has moved on from asking "if" quantum will arrive, and is now focused squarely on “when", leaving the UK on the clock to build its ecosystem in time.
Elsewhere in the issue’s event coverage meanwhile, Fraunhofer UK's Simon Andrews looks ahead to Photonics Means 2026, explaining how October's expanded programme aims to bring a divided sector together.
“Rather than just going faster, quantum helps us see information in new ways," says Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), on World Quantum Day 2026 (Image: QED-C)
Chips, sensors and scale
On the hardware side, an interview with QED-C's Celia Merzbacher on World Quantum Day revealed how light-matter interaction and cross-border partnerships are accelerating the quantum market. Elsewhere in the issue, QCi’s Chief Revenue Officer Pouya Dianat is also interviewed, introducing a plan to scale quantum photonic integrated circuits using thin-film lithium niobate, backed by defence contracts, and NTT Research's Dr Ryotatsu Yanagimoto explains how a single reprogrammable chip could replace an entire shelf of nonlinear optics devices.
Meanwhile, Singular Photonics founder Robert Henderson makes the case that SPAD sensors, once computation moves under the detector, could end up powering more than just lab instruments. Perhaps even the camera in your pocket.
TriLite’s Trixel 3 Cube is an ultra-compact laser beam scanning display engine for consumer augmented reality glasses and automotive projection (Image: TriLite)
Light on the move
There’s also a triptych of guest articles, including TriLite CEO Mario Spiegl telling EPIC’s Jérémy Picot-Clémente why ultra-compact laser engines could be the missing piece in a 15 million-unit smart glasses market, and finally solve the size and weight problems that have held augmented reality back. Ahead of the closing date for nominations for the Photonics100 2027, 2023 alumnus Liam Barry from Dublin City University explains how semiconductor optical amplifiers and frequency combs could keep transceivers scaling without a matching rise in power. And for those chasing more exotic physics, DTU researcher Daniel Duggan presents a programmable platform built from off-the-shelf telecom parts, designed to simulate topological matter.
Curious?
All these stories — and more — can be found in the latest issue, and online at electrooptics.com. Whether you're building the next quantum chip or just trying to stay entangled with the industry's biggest developments, register to receive the magazine now.
