Commercialising Quantum Technologies - Glasgow

Dr Amy Nommeots-Nomm, Early Stage Deeptech Investor, Octopus Ventures

Amy holds both a Master's and a Ph.D. in Material Science, and is a chartered engineer. She is an Investor in the Deeptech team at Octopus Ventures, driving their thesis in advanced materials, manufacturing, and semiconductors. Octopus Ventures is an early stage investment fund who have a number of investments in the photonics and quantum space, including Orca Computing, Quantum Motion, and Phlux Technologies.

Edward De Francesco, Programme Manager, Office for Quantum, Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology

Ed is the programme manager responsible for overseeing the delivery of the National Quantum Strategy within the Government’s Office for Quantum. The Office is responsible for designing and delivering the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, a 10-year plan to make the UK a leading quantum-enabled economy, backed by £2.5 billion in public funding.

Ed was previously the Chief of Staff at Kneip, part of Deutsche Börse Group, and an Accenture consultant.

Evelyn Toma, Director of Strategy, James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, University of Glasgow

Evelyn has a degree in Microelectronics from the University of Edinburgh and a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde.  She spent the first 20 years of her career in Motorola, joining as a graduate and eventually running one of their European Semiconductor Business Units.  She was then Managing Director and shareholder in a successful IT business for almost 10 years, turning the company from loss making to profit and establishing it as a recognised market leader.  Evelyn is currently the Director of Strategy for the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC) at the University of Glasgow.  She was part of the team that won funding for the JWNC based Critical Technologies Accelerator – an engineering centre that provides centralised resource to take on industry led, high risk nanofabrication projects.   Evelyn is an active business mentor. 

Dr Loyd McKnight, Head of the Quantum Technologies Business Unit, Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics

Dr Loyd McKnight is Head of the Quantum Technologies Business Unit at Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP), Glasgow, UK. Fraunhofer CAP is one of the most active participants in the UK’s quantum technologies innovation programme and supports many industry partners in the development of technologies including in quantum sensing, imaging, communication and computing. Dr McKnight has grown this theme at Fraunhofer CAP since 2012 and is an expert in the development of novel laser sources, photon sources and integrated optics which are critical building blocks in many quantum technologies.

Sir Peter Knight, Chair of the Quantum Metrology Institute, National Physical Laboratory and Chair of the UK National Quantum Technology Programme Strategic Advisory Board

Peter Knight

John Devaney, Quantum Standards Manager, National Physical Laboratory

John Devaney