Quantum Base Secures £700,000 UKRI Research Fellowship

Insider Brief

• Quantum Base has secured a £700,000 UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Grant to fund a four-year research programme led by its Head of Materials Science, Dr William Thom.
• The Q-MAT programme will focus on developing quantum materials for the company’s Q-ID authentication technology, with research covering glass, metals and polymers.
• The funding is expected to cover approximately 70% of the cost of a dedicated research team, while any intellectual property generated through the programme will belong to Quantum Base.

PRESS RELEASE — Quantum Base (AIM: QUBE), the quantum science company focused on creating a new global standard in authentication, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a UK Research and Innovation (“UKRI”) Future Leaders Fellowship Grant (the “Grant”), with Dr William Thom, Head of Materials Science at Quantum Base, receiving the Fellowship.

The Grant provides £0.7 million of non-dilutive funding to support a four-year research programme, led by Dr Thom, during the period 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030, with the potential to be extended for a further three years.

Highlights

• £0.7 million of non-dilutive funding awarded through the highly competitive UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, supporting a four-year research programme titled ‘Next-Generation Quantum Materials for Intrinsic Authentication (Q-MAT)’ with the option for a further three-year extension.
• Funding is expected to recover approximately 70% of the cost of a dedicated research team already included within the Group’s cost base, reducing net operating costs while increasing investment into innovation.
• The research programme will focus on developing the next generation of quantum materials underpinning Q-ID®, extending the technology across new substrates including glass, metals and polymers.
• Successful development could broaden the addressable market for Q-ID®, supporting entry into new applications including high-tech manufacturing, aerospace components, polymer banknotes and more.
• The research will be led by Dr Thom at Quantum Base’s Lancaster facility, with all intellectual property generated through the programme to be owned by the Company.
• Future Leaders Fellowships are awarded to outstanding researchers and innovators with the potential to become leaders in their field, representing a significant endorsement of Dr Thom, Quantum Base’s scientific platform and its research team.

The Grant is being made available by Innovate UK, part of UKRI. Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency, aiming to drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas.

Tom Taylor, CEO of Quantum Base, commented:

“We’re delighted to accept this Grant, which we believe to be a significant endorsement of both Dr Thom and the world-class research capability we have built at Quantum Base. The Future Leaders Fellowship is one of the UK’s most competitive research programmes, and securing this funding reflects the strength of our science and the commercial potential of our technology.

“Importantly, the Grant provides £0.7 million of non-dilutive funding to support work that aligns directly with our long-term roadmap, enabling us to focus on developing the next generation of quantum materials that underpin Q-ID®, with the potential to extend our technology across new substrates and unlock a range of new applications and markets.

“As demand for our solution continues to grow, we believe this research will further strengthen our technological leadership and support the continued expansion of our commercial opportunity.”