Qascade

Qascade was named on 16 April 2026 as one of four startups in the inaugural cohort of the DeepTech Catalyst Quantum (DTC Quantum) programme, announced at Harwell by UKRI STFC and the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). Each cohort member receives £50,000 to £100,000 in R&D funding, 50 hours of business support, and investor introductions as the first structured commercial layer of the UK's £2bn ProQure quantum commitment.

Qascade is a UK quantum-photonics startup focused on light-based ultra-fast data movement — high-speed optical data transport that targets datacentre interconnects, quantum networking links, and the scaling of classical fibre bandwidth beyond the limits of electronic switching. Photonic data movement is attractive because it transmits signals at the speed of light, consumes significantly less power per bit than copper-based alternatives, and is compatible with both classical and quantum information channels.

The broader significance lies in the UK quantum ecosystem's test of commercialisation. Qascade sits at the intersection of photonics and quantum networking, two areas where UK research depth is strong but industrial translation has lagged. The DTC Quantum programme is designed as a proof-of-concept gate rather than a funding runway; the benchmark for this cohort is whether firms like Qascade raise private follow-on rounds within 18 months of naming.