Mater-AI Named Runner-Up in the Institute of Physics' qBIG Prize 2026

Recognised at Commercialising Quantum Global 2026 for developing cryogenic thermoelectric materials that tackle one of quantum computing's biggest scaling bottlenecks: thermal management.

Mater-AI has been named runner-up in the Institute of Physics' qBIG Prize 2026, a leading award recognising SMEs developing breakthrough quantum technologies and enabling solutions for the sector. The recognition was announced at the Commercialising Quantum Global 2026 event in London.

Recognised for Cryogenic Thermoelectric Innovation

According to the Institute of Physics, Mater-AI was recognised:

"for the development of high-efficiency cryogenic thermoelectric material designed to solve the critical thermal management bottleneck limiting the scale-up of Quantum 2.0 hardware."

Solving Quantum Computing's Thermal Management Bottleneck

The award reflects Mater-AI's growing role in one of the most important infrastructure challenges facing quantum computing: thermal management. As quantum systems scale, maintaining stable low-temperature environments inside the quantum processor unit (QPU) stack becomes increasingly difficult. Heat leakage, local hotspots and thermal instability can all undermine qubit performance, coherence and ultimately the path to fault-tolerant, commercial-scale quantum computers.

Mater-AI is developing AI-discovered thermoelectric materials designed to provide solid-state active cooling and thermal stabilisation for critical components within quantum hardware, helping address this bottleneck.

Part of a Broader AI-Driven Materials Platform

Mater-AI's broader platform combines advanced AI, physics-led modelling, quantum chemistry and empirical lab validation to discover and optimise novel thermoelectric materials. While the company's core applications span waste heat recovery and advanced thermal management, the qBIG recognition highlights a particularly exciting frontier for the business: applying these materials to the next generation of quantum computing hardware, where energy efficiency, cryogenic cooling and system stability will be fundamental to scaling the industry.

A Milestone at the Intersection of AI, Materials and Quantum Hardware

Being recognised by the Institute of Physics is an encouraging milestone for Mater-AI as it continues to build at the intersection of AI, advanced materials and quantum-enabled infrastructure, with the ambition of enabling more efficient, scalable hardware systems in quantum computing and beyond.