The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has launched a new online platform to serve as a collaborative space for its Quantum Standards Network (QSN), a national initiative funded by the UK Government to promote the standardisation of these emerging technologies. The new online hub is intended to help support a community of practice around standardisation efforts, offering relevant resources, training, plus networking and collaboration opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders from across academia, industry and government.  

Launched in the summer of 2026, the QSN is a £10M national initiative, aimed at turning UK developed quantum technologies into reliable and secure products that can be traded worldwide. The project is led by the National Physical Laboratory with support also from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST), the British Standards Institute (BSI), the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and UKQuantum – a members organisation representing the country’s quantum industry. The network was established to coordinate the UK's efforts on quantum standards and support the ambitions of the National Quantum Strategy.  

Industry standards are hugely important for any nascent technology, but particularly so for emerging technologies such as quantum which attract huge amounts of investment and are often subject to hype. Standardisation is essential for ensuring the interoperability of equipment and protocols in complex systems, and for stimulating a supply chain for components, systems and applications through the definition of common interfaces. To this end, it is an integral part of commercialisation. Their importance is highlighted in the UK’s National Quantum Strategy as well as the recent NATO Quantum Roadmap, launched in September 2026.  

Members of the new QSN online community will be able to learn more about how standards support innovation, understand the current standards landscape, access helpful resources and participate in relevant discussions through community-led events.  

The QSN community is open to anyone with an interest in advancing quantum technologies, including SMEs, start-ups, larger organisations, researchers, investors, policymakers and standards professionals.  

For more information about the QSN and to register for the Community, visit https://qsn.org.uk/