UK quantum computing experts are convening in the historic city of Canterbury this month for the first meeting of a programme set up by UK Research and Innovation’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) to ensure the UK is ‘quantum-ready’.
The SparQ Access Showcase, hosted by the Quantum Applications Research Centre (QuARC) at the University of Kent (part of the London and South East University Group) and sponsored by the NQCC, will see academic researchers reflect on their progress in preparing the UK to take full advantage of the benefits of a science touted as being the next big technological shift after AI.
“Quantum computing is one of the most exciting technological developments of our lifetimes, with the potential to transform society by tackling problems that are currently difficult, or even impossible, to solve,” says Dr Jorge Quintanilla, Reader in Physics at Kent and Director of QuARC. “The UK is at the forefront of this emerging technology, thanks in no small part to the NQCC’s SparQ Access programme, which gives scientists from across the country access to state-of-the-art quantum hardware on which to test and develop our ideas.”
By 2035, the UK aims to develop quantum computers capable of outperforming conventional supercomputers, with the potential to unlock a range of applications, from the discovery of new medicines to new solutions for clean energy. To support this, the Government last year awarded £670m to the NQCC to support longer-term planning, growth, and national capability-building in the field.
Dr Simon Plant, Deputy Director for Innovation at the NQCC commented: “The NQCC’s SparQ Access initiative provides assured access to quantum compute services to help grow the UK’s user community. The SparQ Access channel for academia provides UK researchers with access to a range of quantum computing platforms to explore their potential. Bringing this community together is an important step in sharing insights, building connections and accelerating new research. We are delighted that the University of Kent is hosting the first SparQ Access Showcase, and thank the team for bringing the community together.”
The Showcase marks the first meeting of researchers and providers involved in the NQCC’s SparQ Access programme, which is designed to accelerate scientific research, skills development, and discovery of new applications in the UK. As users of the programme, Kent researchers have cloud access to a range of state-of-the-art quantum computing platforms from leading technology providers.
“Access to technology is only part of the story,” says Dr Quintanilla. “Bringing people together matters just as much. The first SparQ Access Showcase will unite this growing community to share best practice, exchange ideas and forge new collaborations. It is a great honour for us at Kent, and for the Quantum Applications Research Centre, to be hosting it.”
Dr Carlos Perez Delgado, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and QuARC deputy Director, said: “The UK has for decades been at the forefront of academic research in quantum computing and it’s exciting to be continuing that legacy here at Kent with access to real intermediate stage quantum computers that enable us to test the boundaries of the technology’s applications.
“Our research has been exploring quantum technology’s potential for use in autonomous drones and self-driving cars, as well as to reduce the huge data demands of bitcoin mining. I have also been examining how we might counter the inherent security threats posed by quantum technology, with a particularly concern being that it could be used to ‘break’ the coded algorithms, or cryptography, that we use to protect data online. The Showcase will be an opportunity to exchange learnings on this research, and other interdisciplinary projects, with academic teams from across the UK.”
The Showcase, taking place across The Gulbenkian and Darwin Conference Suite from 30 September – 1 October, is expected to attract up to 150 researchers, technology providers and NQCC representatives. More information about the event is available here.