PRESS RELEASE \u2014 \u2013\u00a0CORNERSTONE,<\/a>\u00a0the silicon photonics foundry at the University of\u00a0Southampton, today\u00a0announces the opening of applications for its Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC)\u00a0Future Leaders<\/a>\u00a0programme, which will take place from\u00a012-14 January 2027\u00a0at Ada Lovelace\u2019s former home, the\u00a0De Vere Horsley Estate<\/a>. The new initiative, in partnership with the\u00a0Integrated Quantum Networks<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Quantum Biomedical Sensing<\/a>\u00a0hubs, will\u00a0bring together emerging researchers from quantum science, photonics,\u00a0bioengineering, and sensing and communications applications to explore the new silicon photonics platforms that scalable quantum technologies will depend on.\u00a0<\/p>\n Quantum technologies have the potential to transform communications and sensing, but delivering them at scale requires new silicon photonics platforms that combine performance and manufacturability.\u00a0To help meet this\u00a0industry-driven\u00a0challenge, C-PIC Future Leaders was launched to bring together emerging researchers and industry innovators, accelerating the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to strengthen the UK\u2019s\u00a0capability in quantum innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Successful applicants will take part in an intensive three-day residential\u00a0sandpit, forming\u00a0cross-disciplinary teams\u00a0to\u00a0develop\u00a0solutions-focused\u00a0research ideas and pitch\u00a0for a\u00a0share\u00a0of\u00a0\u00a3750,000\u00a0in\u00a0funding.\u00a0Teams,\u00a0led by an\u00a0early or\u00a0mid-career\u00a0researcher,\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0supported by experienced\u00a0facilitators from\u00a0Knowinnovation<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0expert\u00a0mentors\u00a0to\u00a0think freely and shape commercially aware, impactful proposals.\u00a0Along the way,\u00a0participants will\u00a0form\u00a0new collaborations\u00a0and\u00a0industry connections,\u00a0gain leadership\u00a0experience\u00a0and\u00a0apply\u00a0innovations in silicon photonics to the major research challenge of\u00a0developing open-access, quantum-ready photonics platforms for the UK research community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC) accelerates photonic innovation by bringing together tailored start-up support, engaging networking events, expert design consultancy, and flexible prototyping, backed by our open-source silicon photonics foundry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFuture quantum technologies won\u2019t be built by one discipline alone.\u00a0Developing new silicon photonics platforms will be critical\u00a0to scaling the technology, but defining those platforms requires\u00a0expertise\u00a0spanning quantum science, photonic integration, materials engineering, biology, and real-world applications.\u00a0C-PIC\u00a0Future Leaders\u00a0is about\u00a0bringing\u00a0those different perspectives\u00a0into one room\u00a0and creating an environment that\u00a0encourages\u00a0creativity,\u00a0collaboration\u00a0and rapid\u00a0idea development.\u00a0\u00a0Industry has\u00a0set the challenge;\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0got the support,\u00a0now we need the people.\u00a0To anyone questioning whether they have what it takes to\u00a0participate,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0say,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0not asking you to go it alone. Solutions\u00a0will be built by the right team \u2013 what if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0the missing piece?\u201d said\u00a0Ruth Churchill, Impact Manager at CORNERSTONE.<\/p>\n Shortlisted teams from the sandpit will work with C-PIC and their host institutions to develop full proposals of up to \u00a3250,000 for consideration by the C-PIC Innovation Fund panel. All applicants, whether funded or not, will join the C-PIC Innovation Fund Community,\u00a0providing\u00a0ongoing opportunities for networking,\u00a0collaboration\u00a0and knowledge exchange.<\/p>\n ELIGIBILITY<\/p>\n C-PIC Future Leaders is aimed at researchers, technicians, industry professionals, clinicians and policy stakeholders working in quantum science, materials engineering, photonic integration, biological sciences, and sensing or communications\u00a0applications.\u00a0Sandpit\u00a0project teams will be expected to\u00a0collaborate\u00a0across at least two disciplinary boundaries\u00a0with\u00a0at least two research\u00a0organisations and\u00a0a member of the C-PIC technical team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Success will require teams\u00a0to\u00a0integrate\u00a0silicon photonics with knowledge from multiple disciplines while using industry insight to address real-world challenges and opportunities. Sandpit projects must be led by an emerging research leader\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0UK institution\u00a0\u2013 an early or mid-career researcher, typically Affiliate or Associate Professor level or equivalent.\u00a0Intellectual leadership may be shared across the team, and established research leaders and industry\u00a0are encouraged\u00a0to\u00a0participate\u00a0as co-investigators, partners,\u00a0mentors\u00a0and advisors.<\/p>\n SELECTION PROCESS<\/p>\n Participants\u00a0will be selected\u00a0from\u00a0among those who\u00a0submit\u00a0expressions of interest,\u00a0based on research area, role type and other characteristics\u00a0solicited\u00a0in the application.\u00a0The programme\u00a0aims\u00a0to achieve a balanced range of diverse disciplinary experience and\u00a0expertise.\u00a0<\/p>\n SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS<\/p>\n Between September and November, CORNERSTONE will run a series of online webinars and networking sessions to help applicants build connections and develop their\u00a0collaborative research\u00a0skills ahead of the programme\u2019s later stages.\u00a0<\/p>\n KEY DATES<\/p>\n The programme opens for expressions of interest on 21 September 2026<\/p>\n The first\u00a0webinar\u00a0will take place on 8 October<\/p>\n Applications for the scoping meeting close on 21 October<\/p>\n The\u00a0scoping meeting\u00a0will follow on 11 November at the\u00a0Wellcome\u00a0Collection\u00a0in London<\/p>\n Applications\u00a0to the sandpit\u00a0close on 27 November<\/p>\n \u201cSilicon photonics only advances as fast as the people driving it forward, which is why CORNERSTONE is proud to invest in research talent at every stage.\u00a0Through the\u00a0C-PIC Innovation Fund and\u00a0the Future Worlds Silicon Photonics Cohort, we\u00a0have\u00a0already\u00a0invested\u00a0more than\u00a0\u00a3500,000 in grants\u00a0to accelerate industry-relevant\u00a0research and\u00a0support the growth of\u00a0innovative silicon photonics start-ups.\u00a0Now, with the C-PIC Future Leaders programme,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0giving researchers a clear pathway to the dedicated funding they need to apply silicon photonics to specific\u00a0challenges in scaling quantum technologies,\u201d said\u00a0Professor Callum Littlejohns, Deputy Director at CORNERSTONE.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Introducing](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789990212_262_Option-1-1-1.png\")
<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n