Quantum information company Infleqtion and defence firm QinetiQ have won a bid for the Quantum End-to-end Compilation for Combinatorial Optimisation (QECCO) project through Innovate UK. The project will use quantum algorithms to solve complex optimisation problems in logistics, providing crucial quantum software to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. The initiative will address challenges in the logistics sector, such as job-shop scheduling and routing. Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK, and Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies, expressed excitement about the collaboration. The partnership is expected to last three years.
“The advances being made in Quantum technology offer some of the most exciting opportunities in the innovation pipeline for the years ahead, potentially revolutionising everything from medical diagnostics and autonomous vehicles, to military navigation and cybersecurity. This report highlights just how important the commercialisation of quantum technology will be in unleashing the UK’s full potential as a science superpower,”
Minister of State at the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman MP.
The QECCO project will tackle critical challenges in the logistics sector, such as job-shop scheduling, packing, routing, and satisfiability problems. These complex problems have high business value, limited classical solutions, and great potential for quantum solutions. Through workshops and collaborations with end-users in logistics and transport, the project will identify specific high-impact target problems and refine algorithmic implementations.
The project team includes experts in quantum software development, algorithmic implementation, and benchmarking. They will utilise Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform, which has already demonstrated enhanced solution quality on real quantum hardware, and the Supermarq benchmarking infrastructure for performance evaluation.
Quantum technology advancements offer exciting opportunities in the innovation pipeline for the years ahead. They could revolutionise various sectors, from medical diagnostics and autonomous vehicles to military navigation and cybersecurity. The commercialisation of quantum technology will be crucial in unleashing the UK’s full potential as a science superpower.
The UK is at the forefront of Quantum Technology development thanks to its exceptional researchers, businesses, and innovators. In May 2022, Infleqtion acquired Chicago-based Super.tech, a quantum software company that accelerates the development and adoption of quantum computing. Super.tech was spun out of pioneering quantum computing research from EPiQC, an NSF Expedition in Computing at the University of Chicago.
Infleqtion’s Expansion in the UK
Infleqtion and its software capabilities are expanding in the UK, a country with a strong track record of innovation in science and technology. The strong partnership between the UK and Chicago as global partners is recognised, and there is anticipation for working with UK colleagues to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum computing.
Quantum technology is one of the most exciting new technologies in development, potentially reshaping global solutions for future generations. The impact of Infleqtion’s work will now stretch to international partners in the United Kingdom to increase efficiency and continue to build the quantum network worldwide.
The partnership between Infleqtion and QinetiQ is expected to last for three years. It will result in development of new software tools and applications for quantum-enabled systems. By compiling end-user applications directly to quantum hardware, Infleqtion aims to leverage the unique characteristics of quantum computing to achieve faster and more efficient solutions. This will make quantum technology more accessible and easier for various finance, healthcare, and national security applications.
Infleqtion delivers high-value quantum information precisely where it is needed. The company operates at the Edge, with software-configured, quantum-enabled products. Infleqtion’s hardware products and AI-powered solutions address critical market needs in PNT, global communication security and efficiency, resilient energy distribution, and accelerated quantum computing.
QinetiQ, headquartered in the UK, is a global research and engineering company that creates, tests, and uses the latest technologies for defence and security customers. The company’s expertise in applying quantum computing to real-world problems makes it a natural partner for Infleqtion in the QECCO project.
“We are delighted to be part of the QECCO project and collaborate with QinetiQ to unlock the full potential of quantum computing,”
Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK.
“This project aligns perfectly with our vision of applying quantum technology to solve real-world problems. With our cutting-edge software capabilities and QinetiQ’s expertise in dual-use logistics applications, we are confident that we can deliver groundbreaking solutions for the UK.”
Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK
“QinetiQ is excited to be supporting Infleqtion on the QECCO project. Infleqtion is a natural partner of choice for QinetiQ. Their market-leading quantum technologies fit well with QinetiQ’s own quantum information processing and classical/quantum engineering and integration expertise, and we look forward to building on this success together.”
Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies
“Our exceptional researchers, businesses and innovators are continuously pushing the boundaries of Quantum Technology development, placing the UK at the leading edge of this field,”
Will Drury, executive director of digital and technologies at Innovate UK.
“We are pleased to see Infleqtion’s software capabilities expand in the UK as the country has a strong track record of innovation in science and technology. We recognize the strong partnership between the UK and Chicago as global partners, and we look forward to working with our UK colleagues to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum computing,”
Infleqtion’s VP of Quantum Software, Pranav Gokhale
“Quantum is unquestionably one of the most exciting new technologies in development, with the potential to reshape global solutions for future generations. And that ripple effect comes from auspicious beginnings in the heart of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rooted in the groundbreaking quantum computing research coming out of the University of Chicago, Argonne Laboratory, and the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the impact of Infleqtion’s work will now stretch to our global partners in the United Kingdom to increase efficiency and continue to build the quantum network worldwide,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Summary
Infleqtion and QinetiQ have won a bid for the Quantum End-to-end Compilation for Combinatorial Optimisation (QECCO) project, aiming to use quantum algorithms to solve complex optimisation problems in logistics for the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. The three-year partnership will develop new software tools for quantum-enabled systems, potentially revolutionising sectors such as finance, healthcare, and national security by making quantum technology more accessible and efficient.
- Quantum information company Infleqtion and defence company QinetiQ have won a bid for the Quantum End-to-end Compilation for Combinatorial Optimisation (QECCO) project through Innovate UK.
- The project aims to use quantum algorithms to solve complex optimisation problems in logistics, which are crucial for national security but often difficult to solve using classical computers.
- The QECCO project will address key challenges in the logistics sector, including job-shop scheduling, packing, routing, and satisfiability problems.
- The project team includes experts in quantum software development, algorithmic implementation, and benchmarking, with a foundation from Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform and the Supermarq benchmarking infrastructure.
- Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK, and Dr Gillian Marshall, QinetiQ’s Senior Fellow for Quantum Technologies, expressed their excitement and confidence in the project’s potential.
- The partnership is expected to last for three years and will result in the development of new software tools and applications for quantum-enabled systems.
- Infleqtion aims to leverage the unique characteristics of quantum computing to achieve faster and more efficient solutions, making quantum technology more accessible for various finance, healthcare, and national security applications.
- Infleqtion acquired Super.tech, a leading quantum software company, in May 2022. Super.tech was spun out of pioneering quantum computing research from EPiQC at the University of Chicago.