LFCS researchers to work on a UK-wide Quantum Technologies Research project
Elham Kashefi, Chris Heunen, Myrto Arapinis and Petros Wallden will be working on a multimillion project that was announced on 11th July.
Chris Skidmore, the science minister has announced £94 million funding for UK’s Quantum Technologies Research during a visit to the University of Sussex, one of the partners on the project. The project, a collaboration between 26 universities involving 138 investigators and over 100 partners will see four Hubs established at Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford, and York. Edinburgh Informatics researchers will be involved: Elham Kashefi as the science leader team member in charge of the software, Chris Heunen, Myrto Arapinis and Petros Wallden as co-investigators.
Technologies that will allow fire crews to see through smoke and dust, computers to solve previously unsolvable computational problems, construction projects to image unmapped voids like old mine workings, and cameras that will let vehicles ‘see’ around corners are just some of the developments already taking place in the UK.
The National Quantum Technologies Programme, which began in 2013, has now entered its second phase of funding, part of which will be a £94 million investment by the UK government, via UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), in four Quantum Technologies Research Hubs. Through these Hubs the UK’s world-leading quantum technologies research base will continue to drive the development of new technologies through their networks of academic and business partnerships.
“Harnessing the full potential of emerging technologies is vital as we strive to meet our Industrial Strategy ambition to be the most innovative economy in the world. Our world-leading universities are pioneering ways to apply quantum technologies that could have serious commercial benefits for UK businesses. That’s why I am delighted to be announcing further investment in Quantum Technology Hubs that will bring academics and innovators together and make this once futuristic technology applicable to our everyday lives.”
“The UK is leading the field in developing Quantum Technologies and this new investment will help us make the next leap forward in the drive to link discoveries to innovative applications. UKRI is committed to ensuring the best research and researchers are supported in this area.”