Kets
Expertise
Innovation
Industry
Cybersecurity
Introduction
Quantum encryption funding UK is vital for scaling breakthrough technologies. KETS Quantum Security, a University of Bristol spinout, partnered with Ayming to secure £699K in Innovate UK Investor Partnerships funding. This support accelerated the development of their world-first chip-to-chip QKD solution, moving them closer to commercial adoption and strengthening their position in the cybersecurity industry.
The Challenge
KETS Quantum Security, a deep-tech company spun out of the University of Bristol, is pioneering chip-based quantum encryption technologies to protect against current and future cyber threats. Their breakthrough innovation — the world’s first chip-to-chip Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution — drastically reduces the size and energy requirements of traditional fibre-based systems, making quantum-safe security commercially viable for industries such as defence, telecoms, and finance.
To accelerate development and commercial adoption, KETS needed significant funding. With the closure of Innovate UK’s SMART Grants scheme, the re-emerging Investor Partnerships programme offered an opportunity to secure non-dilutive funding tied to equity investment. However, navigating the scheme’s complex requirements while managing investor expectations required expert guidance.
The Approach
Ayming provided end-to-end support for KETS in applying to Innovate UK’s Investor Partnerships programme. Our team:
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Shaped the project storyline to align with Innovate UK’s criteria around technological maturity, commercial readiness, and additionality.
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Managed the full application journey — from early ideation to final submission — ensuring compliance with Innovate UK’s requirements.
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Coordinated with KETS’s investor to prepare critical documents, including the Expression of Interest form, and liaised directly with Innovate UK to keep the project on track.
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Leveraged our PhD-level technical expertise and strong network within the venture capital ecosystem to align grant timing with investment rounds and strengthen the proposal.
By combining technical insight with grant-writing excellence, we positioned KETS to demonstrate both the disruptive potential of their technology and their commercial readiness to scale.
What sets us apart
Ayming is recognised for bringing unmatched expertise and a rigorous, partnership-driven approach that sets a higher standard in the market, delivering value that extends far beyond financial results.
Strategic Grants Advisory
Ayming’s Strategic Grants Advisory is the answer to forming and utilising a coherent grant funding strategy. We’ll work with you to deliver a strategy that supports your investment plans, analysing the most likely eligible and competitive innovation projects.
Ayming's Reach
Ayming collaborates with Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) funds to align their portfolios with the latest HMRC guidelines in the UK, mainly focusing on optimising R&D tax positions and taking advantage of government grant funding. Given Ayming’s global consultancy expertise, we can extend our help to partners with investments worldwide, wherever R&D relief and grant schemes are in place.
Key figures
Of the £998,676 project costs covered through non-dilutive funding.
Grant funding secured from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships.
Smaller footprint of KETS’s chip-to-chip QKD solution compared to standard fibre-based modulators.
Impact
Through Ayming’s support, KETS secured £699,073 in Innovate UK grant funding, covering 70% of their £998,676 project. This crucial funding allows them to advance development of their chip-to-chip QKD solution, bringing it closer to widespread commercial adoption.
Beyond the immediate grant success, our collaboration helped:
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De-risk KETS’s path from R&D to commercialisation through matched public and private investment.
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Free up leadership time to focus on product development and scaling, while Ayming managed the funding process.
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Position KETS within an ecosystem of investors, corporates, and international partners to accelerate growth and adoption.
About KETs
UK-based deep tech company develop chip-based quantum encryption technologies protecting against both current and future cyber threats.
