Toshiba has officially opened the new, cutting-edge Quantum Technology Centre in a ceremony. Particularly, Lord Johnson, Minister of Investment in the Department for Business and Trade for the UK Government and Hajime Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom led distinguished guests.

The new facility, located in the Cambridge Science Park, is a commercial offshoot from the Toshiba Cambridge Research Laboratory. In addition, it represents a £20 million investment from Toshiba into the development of quantum-secure networking solutions. Particularly, it will initially create over 30 new jobs in the high-technology industry.

Growing R&D Investments

Originally opened in 1991 as Toshiba’s first overseas R&D site, the Cambridge Research Laboratory has been dedicated to fostering innovation. Particularly, through basic and applied research in physics, engineering, and computer science.

Since then, Toshiba has invested more than £240 million in UK R&D, with around £100 million funding pioneering work in the development and commercialization of quantum-based technologies. This includes Toshiba’s industry-leading quantum-secure networking solutions.

Toshiba started research into quantum cryptography at the Cambridge Research Laboratory in 1999, and has delivered several research breakthroughs. Moreover, the first example of quantum key distribution over 100km of fiber in 2003. As the growing power of quantum computers has started posing a threat to traditional methods of cryptography, the quantum cryptography market is likely to become worth more than $3 billion by 2028.

For that reason, Toshiba has continued to strategically invest in further developing its quantum cryptography capabilities. Particularly, in commercializing its technology for real-world use by organizations in order to underpin the new quantum-safe economy of the future.

Cutting-Edge Technologies

The new Quantum Technology Centre operates under Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation. Moreover, it will not only work to commercialize Toshiba’s innovative quantum-secure networking technologies but also manufacture initial products such as its Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system. Hence, the investment will also initially create over 30 new roles across a broad range of disciplines, ranging from business development to production.

“Following more than 30 years of groundbreaking work in the UK, we are delighted to be opening the Quantum Technology Centre in Cambridge as our next step in further developing and commercialising quantum-secure communications technologies,” said Shunsuke Okada, Executive Officer and Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Toshiba Corporation President and CEO, Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation.

“This investment reflects the strategic importance of these technologies, not only to Toshiba, but in delivering a quantum-secure economy for the wider world, and we look forward to working with more customers and partners to enable this economy.”

Toshiba’s quantum technology research has delivered cutting-edge technologies that are already being applied in real-world, commercial situations.

Alongside supporting the commercial adoption of existing technologies such as QKD, the Quantum Technology Centre will also support the further development of other quantum-based technologies. This includes chip-based QKD, which will be instrumental in supporting the mass-market adoption of QKD, and twin-field QKD, which could facilitate quantum-secure links spanning over 500km.