The UK has world-leading quantum computing prototypes that cannot be turned into commercial machines because no one can build the test beds needed to prove they work at scale. This project assembles a consortium of UK companies and universities to solve two specific engineering problems: making qubits that are both numerous enough and stable enough for practical use, and building the lasers, vacuum chambers, and control electronics to run them. Currently, neutral-atom and ion-microtrap qubit technologies exist only in academic labs at low technology readiness levels. Without test beds, no company can develop them into products. If the consortium succeeds, the UK would gain a domestic supply chain for quantum computing hardware—microfabrication facilities, photonics components, and modular control systems. This would support a commercial quantum computing industry that could eventually tackle problems in drug discovery, materials design, and logistics optimisation. The work is designed to plug directly into existing national quantum infrastructure, avoiding duplication and accelerating the entire sector. The partners already sell quantum-related hardware globally, so the route to market is established.
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The UK has world leading capability in scalable, high fidelity qubit generation for quantum computing, with two particularly compelling approaches being neutral atoms and ion microtraps. These technologies, however, remain at low TRL because a viable commercialisation approach requires the provision of test beds available to the UK community, and test beds are unavailable owing to two technology barriers -- qubit scalability and fidelity. Providing these test beds requires inter-disciplinary expertise beyond any one company. Our vision for this project is to bring together a such world-leading multidisciplinary consortium of UK industry and academic partners -- the only group capable of overcoming the two barriers and creating a globally leading industry for commercial quantum computing and simulation hardware. The programme will show a transition from fundamental, academic TRL activity to scalable, commercial deployments of cold matter quantum information systems; overcoming the fidelity and scalability barriers via advancement of system manufacturability including microfabrication and vacuum hardware; development of the photonics backbone including advanced lasers for state preparation, qubit control and readout, requiring high levels of optical power, stability and noise suppression; and the design and delivery of electronics and control systems, including modular electronics and advanced control and sequencing hardware. The key objectives in overcoming the barriers as described above is to bring the technology to a level where pragmatic test bed facilities for the benefit of the quantum community can be realised. Commercially, by establishing the potential scalability of the technology the consortium will establish a supply chain cluster, evidencing the potential impact, and producing a roadmap to industrial production. The partners have extensive experience in the sector and can already demonstrate commercial deployment of relevant technologies across the global market for quantum information systems. Furthermore, the planned work can be expected to dovetail with existing national quantum computing infrastructure, to realise coordinated growth of the UK quantum computing sector for the wider benefit of UK plc, and trigger significant additional investment outside the project funding.
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