New Sandpit Program Targets Quantum Silicon Photonics Platforms
Insider Brief
- CORNERSTONE has opened applications for its C-PIC Future Leaders programme, which will convene researchers and industry participants to develop silicon-photonics platforms for scalable quantum technologies.
- The three-day programme, scheduled for Jan. 12–14, 2027, will bring interdisciplinary teams together to pitch research ideas for a share of £750,000 in funding.
- Teams led by eligible early- or mid-career UK researchers may later submit full proposals of up to £250,000, with expressions of interest opening Sept. 21 and sandpit applications closing Nov. 27.
- Photo by Clyde He on Unsplash
PRESS RELEASE — – CORNERSTONE, the silicon photonics foundry at the University of Southampton, today announces the opening of applications for its Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC) Future Leaders programme, which will take place from 12-14 January 2027 at Ada Lovelace’s former home, the De Vere Horsley Estate. The new initiative, in partnership with the Integrated Quantum Networks and Quantum Biomedical Sensing hubs, will bring together emerging researchers from quantum science, photonics, bioengineering, and sensing and communications applications to explore the new silicon photonics platforms that scalable quantum technologies will depend on.
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. To help meet this industry-driven challenge, C-PIC Future Leaders was launched to bring together emerging researchers and industry innovators, accelerating the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to strengthen the UK’s capability in quantum innovation.
Successful applicants will take part in an intensive three-day residential sandpit, forming cross-disciplinary teams to develop solutions-focused research ideas and pitch for a share of £750,000 in funding. Teams, led by an early or mid-career researcher, will be supported by experienced facilitators from Knowinnovation and expert mentors to think freely and shape commercially aware, impactful proposals. Along the way, participants will form new collaborations and industry connections, gain leadership experience and apply innovations in silicon photonics to the major research challenge of developing open-access, quantum-ready photonics platforms for the UK research community.
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.
“Future quantum technologies won’t be built by one discipline alone. Developing new silicon photonics platforms will be critical to scaling the technology, but defining those platforms requires expertise spanning quantum science, photonic integration, materials engineering, biology, and real-world applications. C-PIC Future Leaders is about bringing those different perspectives into one room and creating an environment that encourages creativity, collaboration and rapid idea development. Industry has set the challenge; we’ve got the support, now we need the people. To anyone questioning whether they have what it takes to participate, I’d say, we’re not asking you to go it alone. Solutions will be built by the right team – what if you’re the missing piece?” said Ruth Churchill, Impact Manager at CORNERSTONE.
Shortlisted teams from the sandpit will work with C-PIC and their host institutions to develop full proposals of up to £250,000 for consideration by the C-PIC Innovation Fund panel. All applicants, whether funded or not, will join the C-PIC Innovation Fund Community, providing ongoing opportunities for networking, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
ELIGIBILITY
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 applications. Sandpit project teams will be expected to collaborate across at least two disciplinary boundaries with at least two research organisations and a member of the C-PIC technical team.
Success will require teams to integrate silicon 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 from a UK institution – an early or mid-career researcher, typically Affiliate or Associate Professor level or equivalent. Intellectual leadership may be shared across the team, and established research leaders and industry are encouraged to participate as co-investigators, partners, mentors and advisors.
SELECTION PROCESS
Participants will be selected from among those who submit expressions of interest, based on research area, role type and other characteristics solicited in the application. The programme aims to achieve a balanced range of diverse disciplinary experience and expertise.
SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS
Between September and November, CORNERSTONE will run a series of online webinars and networking sessions to help applicants build connections and develop their collaborative research skills ahead of the programme’s later stages.
KEY DATES
- The programme opens for expressions of interest on 21 September 2026
- The first webinar will take place on 8 October
- Applications for the scoping meeting close on 21 October
- The scoping meeting will follow on 11 November at the Wellcome Collection in London
- Applications to the sandpit close on 27 November
“Silicon 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. Through the C-PIC Innovation Fund and the Future Worlds Silicon Photonics Cohort, we have already invested more than £500,000 in grants to accelerate industry-relevant research and support the growth of innovative silicon photonics start-ups. Now, with the C-PIC Future Leaders programme, we’re giving researchers a clear pathway to the dedicated funding they need to apply silicon photonics to specific challenges in scaling quantum technologies,” said Professor Callum Littlejohns, Deputy Director at CORNERSTONE.
Researchers interested in applying to C-PIC Future Leaders can submit an expression of interest and find full programme dates at https://apply.