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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/T001062/1
Title: EPSRC Hub in Quantum Computing and Simulation
Principal Investigator: O'Brien, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Leek, Dr PJ Morley, Professor GW Nunn, Dr J
Hensinger, Professor WK Montanaro, Professor A Jaksch, Professor DH
Newton, Professor ME Linden, Professor N Steane, Professor A
Warburton, Professor PA Smith, Professor JM Kendon, Professor VM
Wallden, Dr P Horak, Dr P Daley, Professor A J
Arapinis, Dr M D Weides, Professor MP Weidt, Professor S
Ballance, Dr C J Morton, Professor JJL Bennett, Professor AJ
Kuhr, Professor S Kolthammer, Dr W Heunen, Dr C
Ginossar, Dr E Laing, Professor A Gates, Dr JC
Kashefi, Professor E Keller, Dr MK Thompson, Professor RC
Meeson, Professor P Haynes, Professor PD Benjamin, Professor SC
Kim, Professor M Walmsley, Professor IA Browne, Professor D
Lucas, Dr D Campbell, Dr ET Mintert, Dr F
Schneider, Professor U Chancellor, Dr N Knolle, Dr J
Davis, Dr A Cubitt, Dr T Mosley, Dr PJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Dr LG Carpenter
Project Partners:
Airbus Operations Limited BP BT
Cambridge Quantum Computing Limited Creotech Instruments S.A. D Wave Systems Inc
Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL Element Six Fraunhofer Institut (Multiple, Grouped)
GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) Gooch & Housego Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Res
IQE PLC Johnson Matthey M Squared Lasers Ltd
National Cyber Security Centre National Physical Laboratory NPL Oxford Instruments Plc
Oxford Quantum Circuits OXFORD SCIENCES INNOVATION PLC QinetiQ
Quantum Machines Quantum Motion QxBranch
Rigetti & Co Inc Rolls-Royce Plc (UK) The Alan Turing Institute
Trakm8 Ltd
Department: Engineering Science
Organisation: University of Oxford
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 December 2019 Ends: 31 May 2025 Value (£): 27,338,781
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
28 Mar 2019 QT Hub interview panel Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The EPSRC Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub will enable the UK to be internationally leading in Quantum Computing and Simulation. It will drive progress toward practical quantum computers and usher in the era where they will have revolutionary impact on real-world challenges in a range of multidisciplinary themes including discovery of novel drugs and new materials, through to quantum-enhanced machine learning, information security and even carbon reduction through optimised resource usage.

The Hub will bring together leading quantum research teams across 17 universities, into a collaboration with more than 25 national and international commercial, governmental and academic entities. It will address critical research challenges, and work with partners to accelerate the development of quantum computing in the UK. It will foster a generation of UK-based scientists and engineers equipped with the new skill sets needed to make the UK into a global centre for innovation as the quantum sector emerges. The Hub will engage with government and citizens so that there is a wide appreciation of the potential of this transformative technology, and a broad understanding of the issues in its adoption.

Hub research will focus on the hardware and software that will be needed for future quantum computers and simulators. In hardware we will advance a range of different platforms, encompassing simulation, near term quantum computers, and longer term fully scalable machines. In software the Hub will develop fundamental techniques, algorithms, new applications and means to verify the correct operation of any future machine. Hardware and software research will be closely integrated in order to provide a full-stack capability for future machines, enabled by the broad expertise of our partners. We will also study the architecture of these machines, and develop emulation techniques to accelerate their development.

Success will require close engagement with a wide range of commercial and government organisations. Our initial partners include finance (OSI), suppliers (Gooch & Housego, Oxford Instruments, E6), integrators and developers (OQC, QM, CQC, QxBranch, D-Wave), users from industry (Rolls-Royce, Johnson Matthey, GSK, BT, BP, TrakM8, Airbus, QinetiQ) and government (DSTL, NCSC), and other research institutions (NPL, ATI, Heilbronn, Fraunhofer). We will build on this strong network using Industry Days, Hackathons and targeted workshops, authoritative reports, and collaborative projects funded through the Hub and partners. Communications and engagement with the community through a range of outreach events across the partnership will inform wider society of the potential for quantum computing, and we will interact with policy makers within government to ensure that the potential benefits to the UK can be realised.

The Hub will train researchers and PhD students in a wide range of skills, including entrepreneurship, intellectual property and commercialisation. This will help deliver the skilled workforce that will be required for the emerging quantum economy. We will work with our partners to deliver specific training for industry, targeting technical, commercial and executive audiences, to ensure the results of the Hub and their commercial and scientific opportunities are understood.

The Hub will deliver demonstrations, new algorithms and techniques, spinout technologies, and contribute to a skilled workforce. It will also engage with potential users, the forthcoming National Centre for Quantum Computing, the global QC community, policy makers and the wider public to ensure the UK is a leader in this transformative new capability.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Organisation Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk