Future Leaders Fellow, Francesco Raffaelli
KETS’ Lead Integrated Photonics Engineer, Francesco Raffaelli named as one the most promising science and research leaders funded by UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) flagship Future Leaders Fellowships programme announced by Science Minister George Freeman today to tackle major global issues and to commercialise their innovations in the UK. 
Pursuing new research and innovation ideas
Francesco Raffaelli said “At KETS Quantum Security we are developing quantum key distribution systems and quantum random number generators with integrated photonic circuits at the core. Thanks to the Future Leaders Fellowship my aim is to further miniaturise our devices by combining integrated photonics with microelectronic components. Enabling reduced form factor, power consumption and costs, as well as improved security and performance. The ultimate goal of the Fellowship is to enable the widespread use of quantum cryptography technologies”
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said “The Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with the freedom and generous long-term support to progress adventurous new ideas, and to move across disciplinary boundaries and between academia and industry.
The fellows announced today provide shining examples of the talented researchers and innovators across every discipline attracted to pursue their ideas in universities and businesses throughout the UK, with the potential to deliver transformative research that can be felt across society and the economy.”
£100m new support for further Fellowships
Building on the success of the £900 million invested in the first six rounds of Future Leaders Fellowship, UKRI has additionally committed £100 million for a seventh round.
The scheme helps universities and businesses in the UK recruit, develop and retain the world’s best researchers and innovators, regardless of their background. Researchers can apply for substantial long-term funding to support their research or innovation and develop their careers, with each fellowship will last four to seven years.
The projects will be an important part of the government’s ambition to cement the UK’s status as a global leader in science, research and innovation.
Full list of Future Leaders Fellows and their institutions
- Jose Gabriel Rinaldi, Aberystwyth University
- Hojjat Azadbakht, AINOSTICS Limited
- Megan Rebecca Smyth, Almac Sciences Limited
- Robert Harris, Argo Natural Resources
- Xin Zhang, Brunel University London
- Angharad Jones, Cardiff University
- John Harvey, Cardiff University
- Peter Barry, Cardiff University
- Jennifer Greaves, Coventry University
- Michelle Cain, Cranfield University
- Ellen Powell, Durham University
- Zhiwei Jiang, Exactmer Limited
- Alalea Kia, Imperial College London
- Raj Patel, Imperial College London
- George Poulogiannis, Institute of Cancer Research
- Francesco Raffaelli, KETS Quantum Security Ltd
- Aisha Phoenix, King’s College London
- Charlie McTernan, King’s College London
- Kelly Rose-Clarke, King’s College London
- Norah Fogarty, King’s College London
- Steve Sharman, King’s College London
- Susannah Fisher, King’s College London
- Cecilia Gontijo Leal, Lancaster University
- Tracy Underwood, Leo Cancer Care
- Rowan Jane Whittle, NERC British Antarctic Survey
- Katarzyna Mickiewicz, Newcastle University
- Jan De Rydt, Northumbria University
- Alistair Bounds, Occuity Ltd.
- Tracie Farrell, Open University
- Anwen Cooper, Oxford Archaeology Ltd
- James Campbell, Plastometrex
- Emma Jane Newton, Qinetiq
- Caroline Roney, Queen Mary University of London
- Christopher Chen, Queen Mary University of London
- Emma McBride, Queen’s University of Belfast
- Agnieszka Janeczek, Renovos Biologics Limited
- Celia Martin Puertas, Royal Holloway, Univ of London
- Alice Ghidini, Sixfold Bioscience Ltd
- Daniel Mulugeta, SOAS University of London
- Marion Vannier, The University of Manchester
- William Frier, Ultraleap
- James Reading, University College London
- Laura Porro, University College London
- Leonie Tanczer, University College London
- Rick Adams, University College London
- Biao Cai, University of Birmingham
- Matthew Jenssen, University of Birmingham
- Yueting Sun, University of Birmingham
- Samina Karim, University of Bradford
- Simon Fitch, University of Bradford
- Emma Anderson, University of Bristol
- Peter Dunne, University of Bristol
- Rachel James, University of Bristol
- Sinead English, University of Bristol
- Sourav Banerjee, University of Dundee
- John-Mark Philo, University of East Anglia
- William Barter, University of Edinburgh
- Paola Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, University of Essex
- Cetta Mainwaring, University of Glasgow
- Colin Steele, University of Glasgow
- Samuel Bayliss, University of Glasgow
- Stephen Carter, University of Glasgow
- Connal Parsley, University of Kent
- Daniel Ingram, University of Kent
- Sweta Rajan-Rankin, University of Kent
- Evangelos Pournaras, University of Leeds
- Richard Mandle, University of Leeds
- Stefania Soldini, University of Liverpool
- Thomas Jones, University of Liverpool
- Alexandria Boyle, University of London
- Sabina Lawreniuk, University of Nottingham
- Archie Bott, University of Oxford
- Helen Barron, University of Oxford
- Laurence Brassart, University of Oxford
- Neil Hart, University of Oxford
- Peter Bray, University of Reading
- Alice Pyne, University of Sheffield
- Beryl Pong, University of Sheffield
- Neil James Stewart, University of Sheffield
- Tatyana Shelkovnikova, University of Sheffield
- Amit Kumar, University of St Andrews
- Graeme MacGilchrist, University of St Andrews
- Giuseppe Cannizzaro, University of Warwick
- Matthew Jenner, University of Warwick