Last Thursday and Friday, it was back to school for me as I attended the Emerging Quantum Technologies Summer School 2026 at the Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld. The event was expertly hosted by Stavroula Kapoulea, Co-Founder/COO (Kelvin Quantum) and Ioanna Kriekouki Chief Quantum Officer ( Viqthor), whose enthusiasm and leadership set the tone for two outstanding days.
This was my very first quantum event, and I arrived with a fairly common misconception. I thought quantum was a world reserved exclusively for physicists and mathematicians—highly specialised, complex and perhaps a little inaccessible to anyone outside those disciplines.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Do I know my qubits from my quantum dots? Not quite! But that’s exactly why the event was such a valuable experience.
The programme provided an excellent introduction to the rapidly evolving quantum ecosystem, demonstrating how emerging quantum technologies rely not only on cutting-edge physics but also on electronics, software, computing, engineering, materials science, chemistry and advanced manufacturing. It quickly became clear that this is not a niche industry but a broad, interdisciplinary ecosystem that will require expertise from across the STEM landscape.
The potential applications seem almost limitless, spanning healthcare, cybersecurity, communications, sensing, navigation, financial modelling, defence, manufacturing and many more sectors that are only beginning to explore what quantum can offer.
The event also had a genuinely international feel, with speakers from Switzerland, Greece France, Germany, the UK and more, all showcasing world-class research, innovation and technology. It was inspiring to see so many organisations working together to shape the future of this rapidly emerging field.
One of the biggest highlights for me was meeting so many people working in quantum. I expected conversations to be highly technical and perhaps a little reserved. Instead, everyone I spoke with was welcoming, engaging and genuinely passionate about sharing their knowledge. The willingness to explain complex ideas in an accessible way made the experience even more enjoyable and reinforced just how collaborative the quantum community already is.
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to chat, answer my many questions and share their experiences. I left with a much greater appreciation of both the science and the opportunities that quantum technologies present.
Finally, congratulations to Stavroula and Ioanna for delivering such a successful event. Their leadership, organisation and commitment to championing this exciting and emerging industry were evident throughout. It was inspiring to see two talented women leading the way in a field that is helping to shape the future of technology.
I arrived thinking quantum wasn’t for people like me.
I left convinced that quantum needs people from many different backgrounds—and that this is only the beginning.
By Darren Orr, Director @ STEM Recruitment.
