£25,000 prize fund for Bradford Quantum Hackathon winners

Supported by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, the Bradford Quantum Hackathon celebrates the UN International Year of Quantum and puts Bradford on the global map for technological innovation. 

Bradford is set to take centre stage in the global technology spotlight this week as it hosts the Bradford Quantum Hackathon, a celebration of innovation, creativity and the city’s historic role as a birthplace of innovation and industrial revolution. 

Professor Vadim Grinevich (pictured below), University Lead at the Bradford Quantum Hackathon added: “As an academic, I’m interested in how truly transformative technologies move from the research lab into the real economy and society. Quantum computing is one of those. It may sound like sci-fi, but the science behind it celebrates its centenary this year. With billions of pounds of UK investment and tens of billions globally, the momentum is real.

“The Bradford Quantum Hackathon channels that momentum by bringing the International Year of Quantum into Bradford’s UK City of Culture 2025 year. Through our collaboration with Quantinuum and Bradford 2025, we are putting our city on the leading edge, helping turn frontier science into practical skills, prototypes and partnerships for our region and beyond." 

What is a hackathon? 

The one-day hackathon is a creative and collaborative event where teams come together to solve specific problems within a set timeframe. This event takes place on 21 November 2025 at Bradford Live. It will bring together up to 200 researchers, students, and innovators from across the UK and beyond to develop real-world quantum computing solutions to challenges in healthcare, energy, transport and artificial intelligence.  

Hosted by the University of Bradford, Quantinuum, a world leader in quantum computing, and Aqora, the event forms part of the United Nations International Year of Quantum, putting Bradford firmly on the global map for technological innovation. It is also supported by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. 

Quantum computing 

Quantum computing systems have the potential to carry out far more complex calculations than their current conventional counterparts, with the technology poised to change everything from medicine to music. 

Unlike most Hackathons, which are only accessible to the tech-savvy, this event is open to all, regardless of their level of experience with quantum computing. Participants will form multidisciplinary teams and benefit from working alongside scientists, mentors and experts to create ideas that could transform industries and improve lives. Hackathon teams will be supported by mentors with quantum computing and high-performance computing expertise, and the event is sponsored by The Hartree Centre, Ingenii, Project 11, and Moth Quantum. 

Rajeeb Hazra, Chief Executive of Quantinuum, said: “The future of quantum computing will be shaped by the diversity of people who can access and apply this revolutionary technology. The Bradford Quantum Hackathon gives teams tackling very different challenges hands-on access to advanced quantum tools and expert guidance and helps advance the goals of the International Year of Quantum.” 

Pictured above: a quantum computer workstation

Research impact 

The hackathon’s theme, “Where Quantum Meets Culture”, highlights the Bradford’s proud legacy of innovation. The University of Bradford has a reputation as a world-leader in research on the social impact of emerging technologies, and students and researchers from the University will be among the participating teams. 

Professor Ciprian Daniel Neagu from University of Bradford said: "Bradford again celebrates a leading position in another industrial revolution, thanks to Quantinuum's bright decision to build a joined theme ‘Where Quantum Meets Culture’ together. The academic community of students and staff: Bradford Computer Science's first ever Student Chapter ‘PiSoc’, our Quantum, Cyber Security and AI Research Groups members are already training their representative teams for the UN Quantum Hackathon." 

Applied technology 

Creative Director of Bradford 2025, and a judge at the Bradford Quantum Hackathon, Shanaz Gulzar added: “The transformational impact of quantum computing is incredibly exciting, there are so many possible benefits for us here in Bradford and beyond. The hackathon theme ‘Where Quantum Meets Culture’ is so fitting for Bradford, with special creative elements planned which will offer a glimpse of how this technology could be applied in collaboration with the cultural sector.  

“I’m very much looking forward to being part of the judging panel and know that those taking part from Bradford will do our district proud by bringing their wonderful creativity to this internationally significant event. Just as the textile mills once powered an industrial revolution, this event could signal Bradford’s role in helping to power the next one, the Quantum Age.” 

Pictured above: The ballroom at Bradford Live, where the Hackathon will take place.

£25,000 prize pool 

A £25,000 prize pool and access to industry mentors await the Hackathon winners, who will be selected by a senior judging panel representing the UK quantum sector, the NHS and the UN International Year of Quantum. 

Ilyas Khan, Founder and Vice Chairman of Quantinuum, added: “We’ve started a new industrial revolution and quantum computing has the potential to be game-changing for the UK, which is already a world-leader in this technology. In the near future, the people of Bradford will benefit from quantum computing as it speeds up advances in critical areas like healthcare and medicine, energy and transportation and the creative industries, and this event will offer just a flavour of what could be achieved. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity to harness this city’s incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit alongside some of the world’s most promising quantum minds to create solutions that could help shape our future.” 

Teams and individuals can still enter the Hackathon event via its website.