Case study
Explaining the potential of quantum-secured communications and helping industry understand its role in the next generation of cyber security infrastructure
Evidenced value of programme to government backers
Report praised by quantum experts at Oxford University, BT and Toshiba
Valuable tool for engaging quantum industry and supply chain
Objective
The Quantum Communications Hub wanted to engage industry with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), an early stage technology which uses quantum physics to securely encrypt data.
The Hub wanted to showcase its achievements in Phase 1 of the UK Quantum Technologies Programme, and set the scene for Phase 2.
It also wanted to create a strategic piece of content which demonstrated the value of QKD to the economy, set out its vision for the UK to become a world leader, and engage businesses in telecoms, finance and security that need to be involved in developing and using QKD.
Approach
An initial meeting with Tim Spiller, Director of the Hub, scoped out the report. This was supplemented by interviews with experts at The University of Cambridge, The National Physical Laboratory, BT, Toshiba Research Europe, and KETS Quantum.
The resulting report demonstrates achievements to government backers; and explains commercial opportunities to industries such as IT, electronics, finance, space, and defence.
We also developed ‘What’s in it for me’ one pagers for target sectors.
Results
At the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase, the report and sector one-pagers helped cut through the complexity of quantum communications, clearly explaining the opportunities of Quantum Key Distribution to industry audiences.
The materials were praised by experts from Oxford University, BT and Toshiba, who described them as both credible and inspiring, and expressed interest in using them to support their own efforts to promote QKD.
The report has since become a valuable engagement tool for the Quantum Communications Hub as it moves into Phase 2 of the UK Quantum Technologies Programme, supporting industry conversations and helping to articulate the commercial potential of quantum-secure communications.
“The Hub is turning scientific research into commercial applications. This naturally means we are more familiar with academic styles of communication, but we are aware that we need to communicate better with business. Memetic did an excellent job of drawing out the expertise from our network, and articulating it in a way that was informative and inspiring to a business audience, whilst still having the rigour to be valuable and credible in the eyes of our academic partners. That is a very challenging thing to achieve. These materials will be hugely useful for us as we move into Phase 2, which will require much greater focus on industry engagement.”
— Georgia Mortzou, Quantum Communications Hub Project Manager 
Why it matters
Quantum Key Distribution represents a fundamentally new approach to cyber security, using the laws of quantum physics to create encryption that cannot be intercepted without detection. While the technology holds enormous potential, it is also complex and unfamiliar to many of the industries that will ultimately build, deploy and rely on it.
Clear, credible communication is therefore essential to moving QKD from laboratory research into real-world deployment. By translating cutting-edge science into practical opportunities for telecoms, finance, defence and technology businesses, the report helped bridge the gap between research and industry.
In doing so, it strengthened the UK’s position as a global leader in quantum communications and provided a clear narrative for how the next phase of the programme can turn scientific breakthroughs into secure infrastructure for the digital economy.
