Integrated Quantum Networking (IQN) Hub: pioneering a ‘near-unhackable’ internet

Cybercrime costs the UK economy an estimated £27 billion a year. As data security, communications, and advanced computing face escalating threats, classical encryption methods are increasingly vulnerable. Harnessing quantum physics can offer unprecedented security—creating digital keys that are essentially “unbreakable.”

Approach

Heriot-Watt University leads the Integrated Quantum Networking (IQN) Hub, part of a nationwide initiative supported by £19.5 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and over £20 million from more than 40 industry partners. Together, these collaborators aim to design large-scale quantum networks capable of distributing quantum entanglement across local, national, and global (satellite-based) links. This groundbreaking hub unites academia, startups, multinational corporations, and public-sector bodies like the National Cyber Security Centre to translate quantum science into real-world solutions.

Workforce development

By creating over 20 new PhD positions, IQN is actively seeding the next generation of quantum engineers and scientists. This pipeline not only bolsters the UK’s competitiveness in quantum technologies but also helps drive entrepreneurship, spark new applications (e.g., in AI, healthcare, and green energy), and cultivate a skilled talent base ready for emerging sectors.

Outcomes

• Ultra-Secure Communications: Developing quantum-encrypted networks that protect data by changing encryption keys every time a breach attempt is made.
• Collaborative Innovation: Industry partners are providing critical funding and in-kind support, accelerating the commercial adoption of quantum-based products and services.
• Global Recognition: By placing Scotland at the forefront of quantum research, IQN bolsters the UK’s ambition to become a quantum-enabled economy by 2035.

Future impact

IQN’s discoveries could revolutionise AI, environmental monitoring, and drug discovery, all underpinned by secure, large-scale quantum networks. As the Hub progresses, Heriot-Watt’s broader ecosystem—which includes the HOGS Optical Ground Station and leadership in photonics—will reinforce Edinburgh’s status as a global centre for cutting-edge research. Ultimately, IQN aims to transform not just the way we communicate, but also how we innovate, strengthen national security, and sustain long-term economic growth.