The quantum-technology sector is burgeoning, but challenges remain when it comes to creating viable commercial products. While quantum sensors show great promise, some technologies rely on ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) – which is difficult to achieve in compact, portable devices.

My guest in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast is Florence Concepcion, who focuses on the miniaturization of UHV systems for practical quantum sensors and other devices. She is a senior quantum engineer at Aquark Technologies – a UK-based company that is developing cold-matter quantum technologies.

In 2025 Concepcion was awarded a £1.9m Innovate Future Leaders Fellowship by the UK government. She explains how that money will be spent over four years to develop vacuum systems for quantum technologies.

Before joining Aquark, Concepcion did a PhD on a topic at the intersection of astronomy and atomic physics. She talks about her transition from academia to industry and we chat about careers for physicists in the quantum sector.

SmarAct proudly supports this episode of Physics World Weekly. The company advances breakthroughs in science and technology through high-precision positioning, metrology and automation. Discover how SmarAct shapes the future of innovation at smaract.com.