Artist’s impression of the National Quantum Computing Centre. Pic: Harwell Campus.
Technological progress is fuelling predictions that the global market for quantum computing may see 25% annual compound growth until 2024. UK scientists and entrepreneurs are at the forefront of this and the government is supporting their efforts with the establishment of a new National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, chief executive at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the government department funding the Centre, commented: “The National Quantum Computing Centre will tackle the key bottlenecks in quantum computing by bringing together experts from across the UK’s outstanding research and innovation system from academia and industry to unlock the potential of this exciting new technology.”
The government has also invested in the UK’s first commercially available quantum computer which will be hosted near Abingdon and is being developed by US firm Rigetti Computing. Oxford Instruments, Standard Chartered and Bristol and London-based quantum software start-up Phasecraft will work with Rigetti, as well as the University of Edinburgh. John Vandore, Business Development Manager and Quantum community engagement manager at Harwell Campus, pointed out that Rigetti’s involvement was a recognition of the strength of the UK’s quantum computing technology.