How to achieve UK Quantum mission 1
Recently, we’ve seen a flurry of quantum strategies and roadmaps from the world’s governments and quantum hardware companies. If you look at those proposals in detail, there’s one common thread: quantum error correction (QEC).
This is a savvy move. At the end of 2023, the wider quantum community agreed that we cannot unlock quantum computing’s predicted $850bn in value unless we can achieve a large number of error-free Quantum Operations, or QuOps, for short.
The exact number of QuOps required to unlock commercially and socially relevant applications is expected to be around a trillion (aka a TeraQuOp) – and the UK Government is aiming for this figure by 2035 with Mission 1 of its quantum strategy.
In the interim, there’s a short-term goal of one million QuOps (MegaQuOp) by 2028. To put this in perspective, today’s machines are capable of a few hundred QuOps.
The road to the MegaQuOp
Is the UK Government’s goal achievable? Yes. In fact, we'd argue that we could reach the MegaQuOp threshold sooner because we can achieve it without any radical new physics, networking, or cryogenics technologies.
Progress in QEC has also accelerated in recent times. In the last six months, both big tech and quantum start-ups have made multiple breakthroughs, increasing the number of error-corrected qubits to 48, developing the QEC codes to reduce the number of required qubits ten-fold, novel qubit designs by OQC and with Riverlane building the quantum decoders to enable efficient universal quantum computers.
The missing element in all QEC experiments is scalable real-time decoding demonstrations, alongside overcoming the unique challenges of each qubit platform.
That’s something Riverlane is working on with its full QEC Stack solution, Deltaflow, helping quantum computers accelerate their path to performance beyond the supercomputing threshold.
We are also seeing the emergence of enterprise-ready quantum, quantum computing taken out of controlled lab environments for the first time and embedded into secure commercial locations.
OQC recently launched OQC Toshiko: an upgradable 32-qubit platform and the world’s first Enterprise Ready Quantum Computing Platform. As the first company in the world to integrate quantum computing into commercial data centres, OQC is bringing quantum out of the lab and into the data centre; demonstrating the innovation and moment of quantum hardware.
Thanks to this fast-moving progress, the Boston Consulting Group revised its quantum computing forecast stating there will be “equal long-term value, error correction sooner” and therefore an acceleration in progress to commercialisation by 2027.
Error-free future
With every new wave of technology, there is an opportunity to create the next trillion-pound industry. Today, the UK has the perfect confluence of skills, relationships, and early technological lead at the tipping point in large and reliable quantum computing – thanks, in part, to the government’s continued commitment to quantum with last year’s £2.5bn commitment boosting its £1bn investment in 2014.
However, it’s vital for the UK to maintain this early lead. Other countries are publishing equally ambitious quantum strategies. For example, France has set a goal to build two universal fault-tolerant quantum computers with 128 logical qubits by 2030. Denmark, Australia, Germany and the US also have similar ambitions to the UK.
Reaching Quantum Mission 1
So, how can the UK achieve Mission 1 and reach a MegaQuOp by 2028?
Our answer is simple. Buy stuff. Now.
If quantum computing start-ups must wait five years for bigger systems to emerge or government procurement processes to run their course, they will struggle to survive.
A successful public-private partnership model, which delivers economic, social and security returns, requires predictable government investment in early and subsequent generations of quantum technology. Without this we can’t unlock private capital to step forward and invest at the post Series A and B level.
Fortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening with government testbeds. The UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) recently announced the global winners of its UK programme to build a whole bunch of smallish quantum computers that it can test out at its new lab facilities. Silicon Valley itself emerged from a similar approach.
Investment by NASA and US government research agencies seeded the development of integrated chip technologies that in turn snowballed into the Silicon Valley led global boom in computing.
In quantum, we need to maintain this private-public investment model to accelerate our quantum computing capabilities, allowing us to reach a MegaQuOp by 2028.
This certainty from the UK government will give private capital markets the confidence to support the development of a MegaQuOp capable device, enabling a multiplier effect to increase the impact of UK government investment.
Quantum hardware and error correction companies are already working together and - with continued support from the government – we can leverage our full expertise and further develop the ecosystem to achieve the UK’s Quantum Mission 1.
View all campaign week content
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
Tech and Innovation Summit, 6 Nov (rescheduled date)
Emerging technologies will be debated and explored at our annual Tech and Innovation Summit, taking place on 6 November. This campaign week will directly feed into the themes discussed at the Summit.
techUK’s flagship Tech and Innovation Summit returns to traverse the extraordinary and ground-breaking discoveries made possible by the application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Upcoming events:
Latest news and insights:
Get our tech and innovation insights straight to your inbox
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Technology and Innovation and AI programmes.
Learn more about our Unleashing Innovation campaign:
Sprint Campaigns
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Upcoming events
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
Laura Foster
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Authors
Simon Phillips
