QTIC+ will be owned and operated by the University, the precise legal structure is yet to be fully agreed. As the activities scale up then the operating model for each which continue to be developed and refined and will most likely be influenced by those of the National Composites Centre, Fraunhofer or Catapults. Despite their complementarity the primary purpose of each facility is different and as a result their operating models will reflect these differences. Nevertheless, each facility will be given the freedom to operate whilst ensuring state-aid compliance, risk assurance, value for money and environmental sustainability.
Page 30 of 50 4.2.1. QTIC+ Operation and Financial Viability
The QTIC+ facility will be overseen by the QTIC+ executive board comprising of the Chief Executive Officer support by a team of professional service staff and Academic Leads. The team will be responsible for the successful operation and fluid running of the centre and will report to the Research
& Innovation Board.
The CEO will be responsible for the successful development of the centre including setting the strategic direction of the overall facility, integration with the wider UK and international landscape, financial sustainability, governance and assurances.
The Executive Board will have responsibility for ensuring that the facility can deliver the research and technology programme; and the management team will ensure all HSE requirements are met and will decide upon all operational matters including planned maintenance, equipment scheduling and technical support.
The Academic Leads will have responsibility for the Core programme; the member directed programme and will have oversight of the directly funded activities by companies. They will ensure that the programmes are scientifically and technologically sound and will aid clients in the design of their programme. They will be responsible for securing research grant income and recruiting engineers, technicians, scientists and technologists. A Business Development lead will be responsible for developing and securing partnerships and membership of QTIC+. Financial Control will be managed via the university’s existing structures; e.g. management accounting, meeting regulations, making claims to funders, audit, budget setting and approval.
4.2.2. QTIC+ Operating Models
Several operating models are being applied and/or considered for the different lifecycle stages of QTIC+. The initial start-up phase has transitioned to the pilot phase before moving in to the full QTIC+
facility at Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus as a going concern. All models have been reviewed for state-aid compliance.
Pilot phase
As part of the TQEC development a facility at 1 Cathedral Square (BS1) has been commissioned to pilot a small scale QTIC+ facility with approximately 275m2 of office, laboratory and workshops space. The lab space is Grade 3 (basic) and suitable for general purpose prototyping and development of technologies. This small-scale facility will be primarily operated as an incubator for QT start-ups and spin-outs by the University and users will be charged at the standard commercial rates for use of offices, labs and workshops. The facility will support an increasing breadth of activity but will be focussed toward the commercially focussed development of technology, less so than research. This facility will operate until September 2022 when the full scale QTIC will be open and functional.
Scale-up
In September 2022 the pilot activity will move as an operating entity to the new University QTIC+
facilities in the TQEC and will then move to a scaling up of operation that will operate QTIC+ as an
Page 31 of 50 incubator and undertake pre-competitive research and business support on behalf of the QTIC+
community directly and co-funded by the users and funding agencies. During this phase the University will remain the owner and operator.
Full Scale Operation
An important purpose of the pilot is to help finesse the operating model for QTIC+ by using this small- scale version to trial different approaches. Of particular interest is the option of a Tiered Membership model, which has broadly been accepted in the UK, and for example is utilised by the National Composites Centre:
1) It is an independently operated, University-led centre with multiple tiers of membership drawn from industry.
a) Tier 1 Members - primes, strategic suppliers, large businesses etc b) Tier 2 Members – SMEs, collaborators and other partners
c) Associate Members – These are those who want to be part of the QTIC network
d) Direct – This allows for non-members to access the facilities and is charged at an agreed rate.
2) A core programme of work is set by the Tier 1 and 2 members 3) Members fund individually tailored activities
4) Direct funded work can only be taken to TRL 6 (Commercial prototype)
The governance of the centre includes the members who will sit on the QTIC+ partnership board to agree the core programme and any enhancements required to the facility as time progresses.
The IP generated by the core programme will be owned by the University with free rights to the Tier 1 members (Tiers 2s negotiated on fair and reasonable terms). Company IP remains the ownership of the company.
Though the membership fee and directly funded work QTIC+ will be self-sustaining, securing a I-UK grant allows for faster establishment and increased activity but is not essential to its operation. Please see the Finance Case section for an operating budget.
4.2.3. Member Benefits
Working with QTIC+ offers the opportunity particularly for SMEs to develop, adapt, scale up and validate new and existing quantum technologies. Through innovative collaborative ventures, technology and knowledge transfer, access to state-of-the-art equipment, specialist software, and access to an established network of experience, members will benefit from working alongside other leading Prime Systems Integrator, technology suppliers, material and equipment suppliers.
Membership opportunities exist for small, medium and large companies from all sectors with an interest in commercialising quantum technologies. Smaller companies will benefit from a wide established network of experts with access to the business support and incubation services that the centre will offer.
Page 32 of 50 Tier 1 Membership
• Directed research to value of membership
• Representative on all boards
• Leveraged participation in core research programme and free right to use IP
• Setting the agenda and direction of QTIC+ Centre
• Direction and prioritisation of core research programmes
• Plus, all the benefits of Tier 2 membership, and associate membership
Tier 2 Membership
• Directed research to value of membership, plus;
• Access to specialist equipment, facilities and software to be available from the most respected names in the field.
• Right to negotiate IP license from core programme
• Board member to represent all Tier 2s
• Training on centre equipment for member staff
• Plus, all the benefits of associate membership
Associate
• Use of facilities to demonstrate and prove their technology to other members and 3rd parties
• Access to facilities for private venture work
• Access to QTIC+ hosted events – Seminars, Workshops, conferences, talks
• IP exploitation route
• Visibility of UK quantum activity in one location across sectors
• Ability to work alongside leading Primes, technology and equipment suppliers along with other users
As an open access centre the facility it will be available to any organisation to use, in the instance where an organisation does not wish to be a member it can undertake private venture work on a pay- as-you-go basis. This includes hiring labs, desks and offices for short periods (weeks) through to longer periods (years). These will be provided on a fair and non-discriminatory basis at the market rate. The operational model for the facility will be developed in partnership with these key user groups to ensure it meets their needs during the pilot phase, this will also increase the certainty and confidence that it will be both financially sustainable and effective for its users.
A particular strength of QTIC+ is the Design Factory which will be a shared Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus facility, going beyond supporting our education and skills training, research and innovation, to leverage burgeoning enterprise activities, and to providing resource for multiple local communities and groups.
The operational delivery of QTIC+ will be overseen by a management and delivery team who will work closely with the QTIC+ CEO and Executive Team. The team’s capability includes Business Development, Marketing, Design Specialists, Engineering Specialist, and Engineering Technicians. This
Page 33 of 50 team will be responsible for the successful operation and fluid running of the facilities. See Management Case for governance arrangements.
Page 34 of 50