The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has launched, at the University of Strathclyde, the first of three innovation nodes focused on the application of accurate and precise timing for new technologies and products in sectors such as quantum and fintech.

The nodes have been developed in partnership between NPL and the host organisations Strathclyde, the University of Surrey, and Cranfield University.

The innovation nodes are part of NPL’s National Timing Centre (NTC) programme, the UK’s first nationally distributed time infrastructure that provides secure, reliable, resilient, and highly accurate time and frequency data.

NTC will aid the acceleration of new technologies such as time-critical 5G and 6G applications, next-gen automated factories, and connected autonomous vehicles.

The innovation node at Strathclyde was officially launched by the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, and by NPL CEO Dr Peter Thompson.

The launch is part of a wider two-day programme of events that showcases the breadth of work delivered by NPL, and gives Scottish industry access to NPL’s capabilities in quantum and timing.

The programme underpins NPL’s long history of collaboration in these areas with Strathclyde.

During their development, the three node sites hosted feasibility and demonstrator projects funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency.

In total, 26 projects were supported with technical consultancy and access to high accuracy timing signals to enable the development of new products and services.

Dr Leon Lobo, head of the NTC programme, said: “Time is an invisible utility that underpins our digital infrastructure, from synchronising the energy grid and telecom networks to timestamping financial trades.

“The close collaboration with Strathclyde will offer industry and academia access to reference timing signals to stimulate the development of new products and services, necessary to enable resilient time for the future.”

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A quantum technology cluster is embedded in the Glasgow City Innovation District, an initiative driven by Strathclyde along with Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise, Entrepreneurial Scotland, and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

It is envisaged as a global place for quantum industrialisation, attracting companies to co-locate, accelerate growth, improve productivity, and access world-class research technology and talent at Strathclyde.

The University of Strathclyde is the only academic institution that has been a partner in all four EPSRC-funded quantum technology hubs in both phases of funding.

The hubs are in: sensing and timing; quantum enhanced imaging; quantum computing and simulation; and quantum communications technologies.