KACST and Imperial College London Partner on Quantum Brain Research

Insider Brief

• Saudi Arabia’s KACST has signed a research partnership with Imperial College London to advance quantum brain research and connect quantum science with neuroscience, engineering and biochemistry.
• The collaboration will study quantum properties associated with neuronal cell membranes and the role of fatty acids in neural signaling.
• The partnership also covers measurement technologies combining quantum electronics, semiconductors, biomimetic platforms and neuroimaging, alongside research into maternal nutrition and fetal brain development.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) signed a research partnership with Imperial College London to advance quantum brain research, study quantum mechanical phenomena, and connect quantum science with engineering, neuroscience, and biochemistry, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

The agreement was signed in the presence of KACST President Dr. Munir Eldesouki on the sidelines of the Quantum Forum. The event is organized by the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Saudi Arabia, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum, in partnership with KACST and King Salman Science Oasis, under the theme “Shaping the Future Quantum Workforce.”

The collaboration centers on building an engineering framework to examine quantum properties tied to neuronal cell membranes and how fatty acids influence neural signaling, according to the publication.

Work under the partnership will also involve building measurement and testing tools that draw together quantum electronics, semiconductors, biomimetic platforms, and neuroimaging. A separate research strand will look at how maternal fatty acid intake affects fetal brain development, with particular attention to cognitive outcomes.

Statements

Dr. Mai Alzaydi, Director General of the Bioengineering Institute at KACST, said the partnership is focused on advancing quantum brain research as part of KACST’s efforts to support multidisciplinary research that brings together fundamental science and promising technological applications, enabling Saudi researchers to participate in this scientific field.

Professor Mark Johnson, Head of Research at the Quantum Brain Laboratory at Imperial College London, said the collaboration represents a significant milestone in quantum brain research by integrating quantum physics, neuroscience, engineering, and biochemistry within a testable research framework. It also opens new opportunities for KACST researchers to take a leading role in shaping this emerging field in collaboration with leading scientists from Imperial College London, he added, as cited by Asharq Al-Awsat.

For related coverage, TQI reported on KACST’s separate research collaboration with Pasqal to develop quantum-safe cryptographic solutions in Saudi Arabia, and on Aramco and Pasqal’s launch of Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer in May 2026.