Quantum software lab to solve real-world use cases
The Quantum Software Lab (QSL) is working alongside the NQCC to identify, develop and validate real-world use cases for quantum computing. Under the leadership of the NQCC’s Chief Scientist, Professor Elham Kashefi, researchers at the QSL will work with industry partners and the NQCC’s applications engineers to translate existing computational challenges into research problems that can be addressed through quantum computing.
Building a community
By creating a focal point for quantum software development in the UK, the QSL aims to attract new research talent, provide education and training for the next generation of quantum developers, and provide a source of scientific expertise for the wider quantum community. The Lab’s strategic partnership with the NQCC will also help to create a community of quantum software specialists who can work with other stakeholders, including hardware developers and end users across government, academia and industry, to drive the development and adoption of practical quantum computers.
Working with the NQCC
The QSL’s strong focus on applications development aligns with the NQCC’s user engagement programme, SparQ, that aims to build awareness and skills among potential end users of quantum computing. The QSL team will work closely with the NQCC’s innovation specialists and applications engineers to identify and develop use cases where quantum computing can deliver demonstrable benefits.
Framework for innovation
The QSL will exploit a replicable and scalable framework to investigate the practical quantum advantage that can be achieved for specific use cases, ensuring that full-stack solutions meet the needs of our economy and society.
The Lab will bring together multidisciplinary expertise to deliver its ambitious product-cycle programme, with key areas including cyber security, quantum algorithms, machine learning, verification, error mitigation, benchmarking, and quantum simulation.
Development for the future
Researchers at the QSL will also develop generalised theoretical and mathematical approaches that can be applied across different hardware platforms and applications, including verification tools that will prove whether a quantum-enabled solution achieves a genuine performance advantage over a traditional supercomputer. Discovery science at the Lab will provide the foundational knowledge for follow-up phases of the NQCC programme in quantum software and applications, and will also pave the way for the UK’s first secure and verifiable distributed cloud platform for quantum computing.
