Infrastructure Build to bring QC Capability into Practical Use

With aims to help take quantum computing from the lab to real-world applications EPIQC - Empowering Practical Interfacing of Quantum Computing, a 4-year project backed by £3m in new funding from EPSRC – will bring together researchers to work on the interface of quantum computing and ICT, building an infrastructure that will help to bridge the interaction gap between current quantum computers and information and communication technologies.

Led by researchers from the University of Glasgow, the collaborators will focus on three key areas of work to help overcome some of the barriers which are currently preventing the field of quantum computing from scaling up to practical applications through ICT: optical interconnects, wireless control and readout, and cryoelectronics.

Professor Martin Weides, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering and EPIQC project leader said: “We’re pleased that EPSRC has chosen to lend their support to this project, which involves many of the leading quantum technology and ICT researchers and industry partners from across the UK.

“Together, we have the expertise and access to facilities which will help us tackle some tricky problems. We expect to develop a robust network of collaboration and co-creation which will produce some exciting results and help further develop the roadmap to realise the potential of quantum computing interfaces.” 

Dr Hadi Heidari of the James Watt School of Engineering is co-lead of EPIQC. Dr Heidari added: “This is the first quantum computing project of its kind to place co-creation between quantum computing and ICT researchers at its heart alongside industry. We’re delighted to have some of the world’s leading quantum computing and ICT experts from academia onboard right from the start to help us deliver advances in quantum computing.“

“It is a fast-expanding field with the potential for truly transformative change, and we’re pleased to be playing a leading role in supporting the UK as a centre for quantum computing excellence.”

This multidisciplinary project is strongly supported by other colleagues at the James Watt School of Engineering along with quantum computing and ICT academics from the Universities of Glasgow, Birmingham, Lancaster, Southampton, Strathclyde, University College London, and King’s College London with the National Quantum Computing Centre, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, QuantIC, QCS Hub, IET Quantum Engineering Network, EPSRC eFutures Network and the National Physical Laboratory.  

EPIQC’s industrial partners include Oxford Instruments, Leonardo, NuQuantum, BT, SeeQC, Semiwise, Quantumbase, Nokia, Ericsson, Kelvin Nanotechnology, and SureCore.

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