November 5, 2018

The Government says that the UK has “taken another step forward in the international race to become a quantum superpower” with a £235 million funding boost.  This includes establishing a new National Quantum Computing Centre, a quantum challenge to bring technology to markets and boost the economy, and new centres for doctoral training to upskill future experts.

The Government says that these new technologies will help address the medical, environmental, security and societal challenges of the future. They are the next generation of sensing, imaging, timing, navigation, communications and computing devices, using sub-atomic particles to take computing performance far beyond the abilities of existing “classical” [sic] technologies.

The Government explains that quantum sensors will “see things we currently cannot see”, such as the buried pipes and cables that cause costly delays to construction projects, or the light from hazards obscured by mist or fog.  Quantum computers will perform in a way classic computers will never be able to perform, for example:

• rapidly cracking previously unbreakable codes
• investigating the complex interaction of cells in the body; or
• analysing complex weather systems.

Quantum sensors and clocks will enable navigation in areas where satellite signals from GPS and Global Navigation Satellite Systems are unavailable.  For further information, click here.