UK's National Quantum Computing Centre launched

The UK's National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) has been launched today (Wednesday 2 September 2020) by Science Minister, Amanda Solloway, at the Quantum Computing Summit during London Tech Week.

Quantum computers will enable solutions to be found for problems that cannot be solved by even the most powerful conventional supercomputer available today. They will be far more powerful than conventional computers and will perform incredibly complex tasks that, until now, have been impossible, bringing huge benefits to society. Discovery of new materials, chemicals and drugs will be accelerated and rapid code cracking, simulation of chemical reactions and analysis of complex weather systems will all be possible, thanks to quantum computers. 

The centre, which is funded through a £93 million investment by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is part of the second phase of the UK's National Quantum Technologies Programme, has been established to bring together academia, business and government to tackle the key challenges faced by quantum computing, such as scalability. The centre will build on the strengths in quantum computing that the UK has already established through the first phase of the National Quantum Technologies Programme and will drive the development of quantum computing in the UK, enabling UK to be a world leader in the field. The NQCC is central to the government's plan to build the world's first quantum-economy, right here in the UK, growing the UK's quantum computing industry and generating new jobs and opportunities within the UK. 

You can read more about the NQCC launch here and more about the centre itself via its website and  the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme website.