Quantum computing research turbocharged by funding boost

Quantum computers

The programme will help enable the UK’s ambition to build and deploy powerful quantum computers at scale by developing the algorithms, software systems and verification tools needed to make these machines useful and trustworthy. 
 
The funding will support a major new four-year programme – Quantum Advantage TurboCHarger (QATCH) – led by QSL in collaboration with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). 

Through a full-stack feedback loop that links researchers, academic institutions and industry, QATCH will be instrumental in conducting fundamental research in algorithms and software. This will help make future quantum computers useful, reliable and deployable across real-world applications. 

UK National Quantum Strategy

The investment forms part of the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, which sets out a ten-year vision of being the first country in the world to commit to making and deploying quantum computers at scale. A core mission of this strategy is to develop a large-scale quantum computer capable of performing around a trillion reliable quantum operations – a milestone that could unlock breakthroughs beyond the reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers.

Quantum computing is technology’s next great generational leap and will rival AI as the defining technology of the future, which could add £200 billion to the economy by 2045.  
 
While quantum hardware is important, the software that tells quantum machines what to do, and verifies that the results can be trusted, is just as crucial. QSL is one of the largest research groups in the world dedicated to quantum software. It brings together expertise across the full quantum computing ecosystem, including algorithms, machine learning, systems, verification, error correction and real-world applications.  

To make quantum computing genuinely useful, hardware, software and applications need to be developed together, in constant conversation. Otherwise, there is a risk that each part evolves in isolation and progress slows. This will deliver impact in everyday technology and address several grand challenges, paving the way to new capabilities and benefits for healthcare, manufacturing, greener energy, cybersecurity, finance and AI.

Research solutions

Quantum computing could help researchers model complex molecules and biological systems that are difficult to simulate with today’s computers, supporting areas such as drug discovery and biomedical research.

It may also enable more accurate modelling of catalysts, battery materials and energy systems, helping design more efficient technologies for manufacturing and the transition to low-carbon energy.

QSL will develop quantum optimisation and machine-learning tools to improve forecasting of electricity demand and optimise power flows in energy networks, working with partners including the National Energy System Operator.

Cybersecurity will also be a key area of work for QSL, developing tools to assess and mitigate future quantum threats, including post-quantum cryptography and secure communication methods for critical digital infrastructure.

Strong investment

The programme represents a cross-college initiative within the University of Edinburgh, bringing together researchers from multiple Schools across the College of Science and Engineering, including Informatics, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, as well as EPCC.

This investment will support the recruitment of several key positions, from early-career researchers through to senior tenure-track positions. This will be alongside new joint fellowships with industry partners to strengthen collaboration and support the next generation of quantum talent.

The £20 million funding forms part of a £2 billion support package from the UK Government to establish the UK as a world leader in quantum, from skills and talent to research and procurement programmes.  

QATCH programme

Professor Elham Kashefi, Personal Chair in Quantum Computing, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, said: "To turn this unprecedented hardware investment into provable economic impact, our new QATCH programme will launch the UK’s first full-stack feedback loop, serving as the software engine that translates fundamental theory into verified applications. Through daily co-creation between our researchers, hardware vendors, and industry end-users on national testbeds, we are ensuring that software doesn't just run on these new quantum machines, it actively drives their design and utility forward."

EPCC’s Dr Oliver Thomson Brown will lead a work package in QATCH focused on the development of programming models for hybrid quantum and HPC, and providing powerful classical emulation tools to support the wider work of QSL. Oliver said: "EPCC is delighted that the Quantum Software Lab continues to be funded through the ambitious new QATCH project. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the lab on accelerating the development of quantum software and supporting the exploitation of this novel compute hardware to drive innovation in science and industry."

Quantum research at EPCC

EPCC’s Quantum Applications Group is exploring how quantum computing will impact HPC and data science. We are actively searching for applications of quantum computing, and investigating the required quantum and classical resources to achieve an advantage in computability, performance, or energy. We are also developing hybrid quantum and classical programming models, focusing on those which suitable for HPC. Finally, we are developing and improving our ability to simulate quantum computing using our classical HPC resources to better support quantum algorithm and application development.

We collaborate directly with quantum computing experts across the UK through these organisations:

• Quantum Computing Application Cluster
  A multi-disciplinary collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Strathclyde that is working to accelerate the development of quantum computing technologies in Scotland.
• Quantum Software Lab
  A dedicated Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh that works alongside the National Quantum Computing Centre to identify, develop, and validate real-world use cases for quantum computing.
• Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations (QCi3)
  QCi3 brings together quantum computing experts in academia, industry, and government across the UK to address key challenges and deliver applications across diverse areas of engineering and science.