Sustainable Quantum Innovation Workshop, 2026

University of Surrey, UK, 18 - 19 June 2026.

This workshop aims to bring together perspectives from quantum physics, quantum biology, and sustainability.

Overview

Quantum mechanics - the theory governing the microscopic world of atoms and molecules - has long underpinned our understanding of modern physics. Quantum biology is an emerging transdisciplinary field that explores the tantalising intersections of quantum mechanics and the biology of living systems, aiming to create a new synthesis of quantum mechanics with the inherent, highly structured order and organised complexity of living systems. Explicitly incorporating quantum principles into biological systems has the potential to offer a pathway to unlocking new biological insights into nature’s eco-friendly and energy-efficient mechanisms.

A central focus of this workshop is the exploration of how quantum-scale insights from both physical and biological phenomena might help drive the next generation of sustainable solutions. Moving beyond the mere consolidation of current knowledge, the workshop is designed to:

Pinpoint previously under-recognised physical mechanisms that drive efficiency in nature
Stimulate the design of novel experimental strategies to empirically validate these quantum effects
Emphasise the translation of abstract theoretical principles into testable hypotheses.

By bridging these gaps, this workshop aims to forge complementary collaborations and develop ambitious research agendas that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. At its heart, this exchange seeks to demonstrate that biological, bio-inspired, and biomimetic quantum pathways provide the primary blueprint for ensuring that the future of quantum science and technology is as sustainable as it is transformative.