Seven industry giants, including BAE Systems and Vodafone, have joined forces with Digital Catapult’s quantum innovation accelerator to fast-track the development of solutions that can help solve complex market challenges in significant sectors of the UK economy.
The program aims to accelerate the practical application of deep tech, particularly in transport, defense, and telecommunications. Partners such as ORCA Computing, Riverlane, and PQShield are also involved in the project, which is part of a wider Innovate UK-funded initiative called ‘Quantum Data Centre of the Future’. This endeavour seeks to embed a quantum computer within a classical data centre to explore real-world access to quantum technologies. With tailored consultancy from Digital Catapult’s experts and access to cutting-edge quantum computing technology, participating companies like Autonomia, Origami Labs, SIMULEX, Viasat, and ZF Automotive UK aim to achieve defined use-cases and make sustainability and efficiency gains.
Quantum Innovation Accelerator: Industry Giants Join Forces to Optimize Operations
Digital Catapult’s latest quantum innovation accelerator program has brought together seven leading businesses to fast-track solution development and accelerate the practical application of deep tech. This initiative aims to help solve complex market challenges in major sectors of the UK economy, including transport, defense, and telecommunications.
The Quantum Technology Access Programme is part of a wider Innovate UK-funded project called ‘Quantum Data Centre of the Future,’ which seeks to embed a quantum computer within a classical data centre to explore real-world access to quantum technologies. The program convenes unique quantum capabilities and innovation consultancy to de-risk technology adoption. Partners include ORCA Computing, Riverlane, and PQShield, and the inaugural programme saw a 26% boost in confidence about quantum computing from industry leaders such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, and the Port of Dover.
This year, Digital Catapult welcomes more household names, including BAE Systems and Vodafone, signaling growing industrial interest in the technology and the spectrum of sectors that could benefit from quantum innovation. With tailored consultancy from Digital Catapult’s experts and access to cutting-edge quantum computing technology, the services available to participating companies are designed to achieve defined use cases and make sustainability and efficiency gains.
Participating Companies: A Diverse Range of Industries
The complete list of participating companies includes Autonomia, a technology innovation start-up pioneering new ways to solve complex engineering challenges; BAE Systems PLC, a global defence and security company offering advanced technology solutions across air, land, sea, and cyberspace; Origami Labs UK Ltd, which delivers applied R&D to find solutions to complex problems and accelerate turning innovation into deployable capabilities; SIMULEX Limited, a cutting-edge R&D technology startup driving hydrogen integration across carbon capture and storage, geothermal, renewables, and fossil sectors; Viasat, a global communications company specializing in satellite technology for high-speed broadband and secure networking; Vodafone Group Services, a leading European and African telecoms company providing mobile and fixed services to over 330 million customers; and ZF Automotive UK, a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and industrial technology.
These companies represent a diverse range of industries, from defense and security to telecommunications and automotive. By participating in the quantum innovation accelerator program, they aim to leverage the potential of quantum technology to optimize their operations and address complex market challenges.
Quantum Technology: A Key Driver of Economic Growth
Research indicates that quantum technology could contribute up to $450 billion to the global economy by 2040. The work being done through this program will play a key role in scaling solutions and increasing investor confidence in early-stage deep tech. By exploring how new products and services can address global imbalances between the supply and demand of new quantum solutions, the program aims to demonstrate the value that quantum tech solutions can bring to the UK’s deep tech sector.
Addressing Complex Challenges: The Role of Quantum Computing
One example of the complex challenges being addressed through this program is the NP-Hard Steiner Tree problem, which focuses on optimizing telecoms networks by finding the most efficient way to connect multiple points. Vodafone will explore innovative use cases to address this challenge, leveraging the potential of quantum computing to find solutions that are not possible with classical computers.
By exploring the application of quantum technology in various industries, the program aims to de-risk technology adoption and make sustainability and efficiency gains. As the industry giants participating in this program continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with quantum innovation, they will play a key role in shaping the future of deep tech and driving economic growth.
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