About the Speaker

Prof. Rob Young is a leader in the nascent field of quantum technology leader, and the Chief Scientist and co-founder of Quantum Base, a company he established in 2013 to commercialise quantum-driven security. He holds a Chair in Quantum Technologies at Lancaster University, where his research spans quantum photonics and hardware security. His work has translated from fundamental physics into large-scale deployment, with over one billion Quantum IDs (Q-IDs) now in circulation. Quantum Base listed on AIM in 2025, marking a major milestone in scaling quantum innovation commercially. His work was recently recognised with the 2025 Times Higher Education Award for Knowledge Exchange and impact.

You can’t copy this: Quantum IDs and the end of counterfeiting

Overview

This talk introduces quantum technology through a practical lens, moving from foundational ideas to real-world security applications. It explores how quantum effects enable the creation of inherently unique, unclonable identities, addressing one of the hardest problems in global trade: counterfeiting. Focusing on Quantum IDs (Q-IDs), the session shows how these physical, quantum-derived fingerprints can be embedded into products and verified with standard hardware. The result is a scalable, robust approach to authentication that bridges deep tech and deployment. Attendees will gain insight into how quantum innovation is transitioning from theory to protecting supply chains, brands, and consumers today.

Key Points

• Quantum technology makes true uniqueness possible: Quantum effects enable the creation of physically unclonable identities, solving a problem that classical technologies cannot fully address.
• From theory to real-world deployment: Quantum IDs (Q-IDs) translate advanced quantum science into practical, scalable authentication solutions using existing manufacturing and verification infrastructure.
• A new approach to fighting counterfeiting: By embedding unclonable identities directly into products, Q-IDs offer a robust way to protect supply chains, brands, and consumers at global scale.