A Feast of Quantum in the UK

A delegation of eight representatives from Te Whai Ao — Dodd-Walls Centre is in London on a week-long tour of all things quantum, culminating in the National Quantum Showcase today.

‍

Centre Director, Professor Frédérique Vanholsbeeck, who’s leading the delegation says the tour of research centres and quantum technology hubs is being made to foster collaboration between researchers.

‍

“The welcome by the UK researchers has been amazing so far and we are looking forward to seeing more potential for synergies. The showcase promises to be an amazing event celebrating photonic and quantum technologies.”

‍

The delegation has visited the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) the UK's National Metrology Institute, which develops and maintains the national primary measurement standards. Topics of focus have included the establishment of the UK Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), the global efforts on quantum standards and NPL’s work to understand the UK industry need in quantum.

‍

Talks and lab tours were arranged with NPL’s quantum computing team (superconducting), quantum computer modelling team, ion trapping team, the quantum photonics and the team working on Quantum Technologies for Life Sciences and Healthcare. NPL’s quantum seismology work with NZ’s Measurement Standards Laboratory was a key focus.

‍

The next day, a trip to the Science and Technologies Facilities Council included a tour of RAL, the UK's national laboratory advancing the understanding of space and the environment. RAL conducts scientific research, technology development, and provides facilities and strategic advice to external partners. Our team shared its work in the space sector, notably in free space optical communications, quantum sensing of the ozone layer and the development of quantum memories.

‍

Finally, the delegation visited Oxford University welcomed by Andrew Daley, a kiwi quantum scientist. Oxford leads the QCi3 hub on quantum computing. We got a deep dive on how this hub research and industry programme is structured followed by lab tours of their facilities.

‍

Today’s National Quantum Showcase prioritises AI, semiconductors, finance, telecoms, space and defense. The event is celebrating ten years of the National Quantum Technologies Programme and looks ahead to the future of the UK National Quantum Strategy. There’s a packed agenda including sessions on investment in Quantum Technologies, the skills needed for quantum, the quantum supply chain and its use in finance. Sustainability, quantum technologies for navigation, timing and healthcare are also in the spotlight.