The Glasgow-based quantum hardware manufacturer Quantcore has been awarded the 2026 qBIG prize from the Institute of Physics (IOP). The annual prize, awarded by the IOP’s member-led quantum Business Innovation and Growth (qBIG) group, is given to a small or medium-sized company in the UK or Ireland for breakthroughs in the commercialization of quantum technologies.
Quantcore is a spin-out from the University of Glasgow and is based at the university’s Advanced Research Centre.
Quantcore builds the superconducting processors, resonators and sensors used in quantum computers and certain sensing systems. The firm uses niobium-based components, which can operate at higher temperatures than materials currently used in quantum computers. The firm recently received £2.5m in seed funding from several backers.
The qBIG award, now in its fourth year, is sponsored by the UK-based venture capital firm Quantum Exponential and includes a £10,000 cash prize as well as mentoring from Quantum Exponential and business support from the IOP. The award was presented yesterday in London at the Economist Commercialising Quantum 2026 event.
Accepting the prize on behalf of the company, Quantcore chief executive officer Jack Brennan says he is “delighted” to win the award.
“The previous winners are a great example of up-and-coming quantum companies, and it’s a privilege to be part of that list,” he says. “A huge thanks to the qBIG group for choosing Quantcore, and a huge thanks to my fantastic team for working so hard to build the company.” Delta.g wins IOP’s qBIG prize for its gravity sensors
Two runners up were commended by the IOP. One is Mater-AI, which develops thermoelectric materials for energy conversion and cooling. The other is Skydiamond, which produces lab-grown diamonds that can be used in quantum computing as a material for creating qubits.
“The UK quantum industry is going from strength to strength – and is becoming a major growth engine,” says Louis Barson, IOP’s director of science, business & education. “The qBIG prize is all about celebrating the strong pipeline of new physics-powered quantum innovators like Quantcore coming through – and giving them a platform to help accelerate that growth.”
