New Oxford hub to tackle key challenges in quantum technologies

The UK Government has announced the launch of five new research hubs to develop quantum technologies in areas ranging from healthcare and computing to national security and critical infrastructure. One of the hubs will be led by the University of Oxford, and aims to develop the technologies needed for the UK to play a key role in the development of quantum computers - a market estimated to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2035.

"These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions."

The new hubs, which are being supported by a £160 million investment, were announced today by Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle. He said: "We want to see a future where cutting-edge science improves everyday lives. That is the vision behind our investment in these new quantum technology hubs, by supporting the deployment of technology that will mean faster diagnoses for diseases, critical infrastructure safe from hostile threats, and cleaner energy for us all.

"This isn't just about research; it's about putting that research to work. These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions. They will not only transform sectors like healthcare and security, but also create a culture of accelerated innovation that helps to grow our economy."

Quantum technologies harness quantum physics to gain a functionality or performance which is otherwise unattainable, deriving from science which cannot be explained by classical physics such as Newton’s laws of motion or thermodynamics.

Researchers will work closely with industry partners to identify and develop real-world applications of quantum computing, including focusing on design for new materials, chemicals, fluid simulation techniques, and machine learning

The Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCI3) is led by the University of Oxford. Within the hub, researchers will work closely with industry partners to identify and develop real-world applications of quantum computing, including focusing on design for new materials, chemicals, fluid simulation techniques, and machine learning. For example, the hub will work on the development of quantum machine learning protocols which are key to the development of quantum neural networks with applications in areas such as fraud detection.

 The hub will undertake research under three broad themes:

• Improve quantum computing performance through hardware research to show quantum advantage across several platforms
• Develop networking technologies to enable quantum technologies to scale to large systems, ultimately creating distributed quantum computing networks
• Build collaborations with application scientists and engineers to develop algorithms suitable for testing the quantum hardware developed.

The work will involve over 50 co-investigators with expertise across many different aspects of quantum computing, based at 18 institutions throughout the UK. The Hub will also engage with around 30 industry partners, who have already pledged support through £9.9M funding.

"The QCI3 Hub, with Oxford as a lead partner, is very much looking forward to collaborating with our partners to develop concepts and early demonstrations, training researchers, and engaging with the community"

Professor Dominic O’Brien, Director of the Oxford-led Hub, says, "The UK has invested in a coordinated National Programme over the past decade, creating a vibrant research and exploitation landscape. In the next decade, the quantum strategy and recently announced quantum missions set ambitious goals for the next phase of the programme. The QCI3 Hub, with Oxford as a lead partner, is very much looking forward to playing a part in delivering these, collaborating with our partners to develop concepts and early demonstrations, training researchers, and engaging with the community".

The new hub builds on work across the first two phases of the National Quantum Technologies Programme, including the Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) Hub (led by Professor Ian Walmsley at Oxford’s Department of Physics) and the Quantum Computing & Simulation Hub (directed by Professor Dominic O’Brien). Oxford also has a strong track record in launching quantum spinouts and startups, including Oxford Ionics – which is harnessing the power of trapped ions– and Oxford Quantum Circuits, developing quantum computers based on superconducting devices.

Oxford also has a strong involvement in the other four newly-launched quantum hubs. Professor Dame Molly Stevens (Kavli Insitute for Nanoscience Discovery, Department of Engineering Science and Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford) will be Deputy Director of the Q-BIOMED hub led by UCL and Cambridge, 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, saving time and reducing costs to the NHS.

"Our multidisciplinary consortium will tackle important challenges in disease diagnosis to enable better patient outcomes across a range of diseases"

Professor Dame Molly Stevens says: "We are excited to take our ultrasensitive biosensing work to the next stage by utilising quantum technologies in the UK's first Quantum Research Hub dedicated to health. Our multidisciplinary consortium will tackle important challenges in disease diagnosis to enable better patient outcomes across a range of diseases."

Further information about the new hubs can be found on the UKRI website. The hubs are delivered by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a £106 million investment from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Industry collaboration is a key element to all of the hubs, which leverage significant cash and in-kind contributions from partners worth more than £54 million.