Out of a total 77 awarded fellowships, Dr Concepcion was selected as one of thirteen led by businesses in this highly competitive funding opportunity. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship represents one of the UK's most significant investments in early-career researchers and innovators. The fellowship is awarded to those establishing themselves in their respective fields and developing ambitious research initiatives.

Miniaturising quantum technologies for real-world applications

With this funding, Dr Concepcion will undertake research into the scalability of vacuum systems for quantum technologies. By developing smaller, simpler, and more cost-effective vacuum platforms, this work marks a critical step in enabling quantum sensors to transition beyond laboratory environments to commercial, real-world applications. The vacuum systems are essential for the next generation of quantum hardware currently under development at Aquark, including quantum sensors and cold atom clocks.

Beyond quantum technologies, advances in vacuum encapsulation can also benefit a wide range of industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, and space systems.

This award will support the natural progression of Dr Concepcion’s role into a leadership position and serves as recognition of the impact she continues to have in advancing the development of the technology. Crucially, this funding will enable her to build a dedicated team, expanding the research capacity needed to achieve the project’s ambitious objectives.

Aquark Technologies is a leader in developing quantum sensors for real-world applications, with a focus on scalability and commercial production to unlock new markets. These sensors promise capabilities such as reliable navigation in GPS-denied environments, secure communications, and non-destructive underground scanning. Recent successful trials with the Royal Navy and the National Oceanographic Centre demonstrate the potential of Aquark’s technology to be deployed in challenging real-world conditions.

At the heart of this technology lies the vacuum system, a critical component whose miniaturisation and scalability are essential to making quantum devices robust, affordable, and ready for widespread use. The company’s vision of commercial production relies directly on these advances. Under Dr Concepcion’s leadership, this fellowship is a significant milestone to accelerate the transition of quantum technologies from the lab into practical use, reinforcing both her growing role and Aquark’s pioneering position in the field.

“I am honoured to receive the Innovate UK funding as part of the Future Leaders Fellowship. This award will accelerate my research, empower me to build and lead a talented team, and support my career development. I am excited to push the boundaries of innovation and lead advancements in vacuum technology,” said Dr Concepcion. “As quantum continues to grow both as a research field and a commercial industry, this work will be essential in making quantum technology more accessible and affordable."    

Dr Concepcion earned her Master’s in Physics and Astrophysics from the University of Southampton, which included a year of research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, before completing her PhD and postdoctoral research in experimental atomic physics at Imperial College London. Here she specialised in vacuum systems, plasma physics, and precision spectroscopy.

“Since joining Aquark in 2023, Florence has shown remarkable initiative and an exceptional ability to learn quickly, making major advances in a very short time. Her expertise in vacuum science has already been instrumental in pushing our quantum hardware closer to commercial reality. I am excited for her to take this next step, leading vital research in miniaturising vacuum systems and opening the door to new capabilities that will shape the future of quantum sensing and its impact across society,” said Andrei Dragomir, Co-Founder and CEO, Aquark Technologies.  

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