The UK Government has launched five new research hubs to develop quantum technologies, with a £160 million investment. One of the hubs, led by the University of Oxford, aims to develop the technologies needed for the UK to play a key role in developing quantum computers, a market estimated to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2035.
The Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCI3) will work closely with industry partners to identify and develop real-world applications of quantum computing, including design for new materials, chemicals, fluid simulation techniques, and machine learning. Professor Andrew Daley, Principal Investigator of the QCI3 hub, said that the hub brings together researchers with broad expertise on the forefront of hardware and software for quantum computing with leading experts in application areas.
The work will involve over 50 co-investigators from 18 institutions throughout the UK, and engage with around 30 industry partners who have already pledged support through £9.9M funding. Other key individuals involved include Professor Dominic O’Brien, Director of the Oxford-led Hub, and Professor Dame Molly Stevens, who will be Deputy Director of the Q-BIOMED hub led by UCL and Cambridge.
Unlocking the Power of Quantum Technologies: New Hubs Launched in the UK
The UK Government has launched five new research hubs to develop quantum technologies across various sectors, including healthcare, computing, national security, and critical infrastructure. These hubs, supported by a £160 million investment, will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions.
Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCI3)
One of the hubs, led by the University of Oxford, focuses on quantum computing and simulation. The QCI3 hub aims to unlock critical challenges in developing quantum technologies and drive impact by creating real-world use cases for quantum computing. Professor Andrew Daley, Principal Investigator of the QCI3 hub, emphasized that the hub will work with industrial partners to develop concepts and early demonstrations, train researchers, and engage with the community.
The QCI3 hub builds on previous work across the first two National Quantum Technologies Programme phases, including the Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) Hub and the Quantum Computing & Simulation Hub. Oxford has a strong track record in launching quantum spinouts and startups, such as Oxford Ionics and Oxford Quantum Circuits.
Harnessing Quantum Properties for Revolutionary Possibilities
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), highlighted that technologies harnessing quantum properties will provide unparalleled power and capacity for analysis at a molecular level. This has revolutionary possibilities across various sectors, including healthcare, infrastructure, and computing.
The five Quantum Technology Hubs announced today will harness the UK’s expertise to foster innovation, support growth, and ensure that the country capitalizes on the profound opportunities of this transformative technology.
Oxford’s Involvement in Other Quantum Hubs
Oxford is also involved in the other four newly-launched quantum hubs. Professor Dame Molly Stevens will be Deputy Director of the Q-BIOMED hub, which aims to use quantum technologies to transform early disease diagnosis. This could include quantum-enhanced blood tests to diagnose infectious diseases and cancer quickly and cheaply using portable instruments.
Professor Jason Smith will be the Associate Director of the new Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) hub, which will develop quantum communications systems to deliver secure communications and cloud-based quantum computing. Oxford researchers will focus on memory devices that will form the basis of a new quantum internet.
Industry Collaboration and Future Opportunities
Industry collaboration is a crucial element to all of the hubs, with significant cash and in-kind contributions from partners worth more than £54 million. The success of these hubs will build on the UK’s global leadership in bringing quantum technologies from university laboratories to commercial impact. As Professor Jason Smith noted, it is an exciting time for quantum technology research, with new opportunities and application areas emerging.
Further information about the new hubs can be found on the UKRI website.
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