From quantum computing to AI infrastructure and autonomous systems, much of today’s deep tech innovation depends on how well we can control and manipulate light.
While software and systems have advanced rapidly, the underlying optical hardware hasn’t kept pace.
A Cambridge-led team has developed a way to engineer better vaccines that could provide broad protection from thousands of variants of viruses - such as coronaviruses or Ebola - in a single vaccine. This represents a fundamental new vaccine technology that could prevent future pandemics before they begin.
Leaps, a new initiative from the University’s innovation arm, Cambridge Enterprise, will embed Cambridge-based companies in tech clusters around the world, giving their founders access to new markets, talent and investment.
A faith-based climate donation platform and a low-carbon cement innovation took the top prizes at the 2026 Cambridge Climate Challenge.
Researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor to break down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste – such as drinks bottles, nylon textiles and polyurethane foams – using acid recovered from old car batteries, and converting it into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals.
Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm, has published its annual report, highlighting success in supporting new ventures based on Cambridge research.
The UK’s most powerful quantum computer, which will accelerate research and discovery in quantum science, engineering, and a range of other applications, will be based at the University of Cambridge as part of a new partnership with the quantum technology company IonQ. The collaboration is the University’s largest-ever corporate research partnership.
Robots are becoming increasingly capable in vision and movement, yet touch remains one of their major weaknesses. Now, researchers have developed a miniature tactile sensor that could give robots something much closer to a human sense of touch.
The University of Cambridge, AstraZeneca and Beijing municipal parties (the Beijing Science and Technology Commission and the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area), have signed an agreement that will enhance collaboration between the University, AstraZeneca and Cambridge and Beijing’s life sciences ecosystems.
Nu Quantum has secured $60 million investment (about £44 million) to grow its quantum computer networking business, the largest early funding round achieved by a quantum company in the UK to date.
© 2026 University of Cambridge