The UK government has opened a National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), to lead research into sectors including AI, energy and healthcare.

The 4,000 square metre facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire will house 12 quantum computers which the government said will “push the boundaries” of what is possible with the technology.

The centre will contain a wide range of quantum computing platforms, offering open access to industry, academia, and other sectors across the UK.

Over 70 staff will be based there, with the government saying that the centre will provide opportunities for students such as the world’s first dedicated quantum apprenticeship programme, 30 PhD studentships, summer placements, and crash courses for those in industry.

The NQCC will aim to solve “real-world” problems, looking at areas including climate prediction, energy grid optimisation, and developing new medicines which could offer faster treatments for life-threatening conditions.

The government said that unlike many of its global counterparts, the NQCC’s systems are not restricted to government ownership or use, enabling anyone with a valid use case to access it.

By fostering collaboration and innovation, the government claims the NQCC is set to become a key driver of quantum breakthroughs, delivering transformative benefits for both the public and private sectors.

“By making its facilities available to users from across industry and academia, and with its focus on making quantum computers practically useable at scale, this centre will help them solve some of the biggest challenges we face, whether it’s delivering advances in healthcare, enhancing energy efficiency, tackling climate change, or inventing new materials,” said science minister Lord Vallance. “The innovations that will emerge from the work the NQCC will do will ultimately improve lives across the country and ensure the UK seizes the economic benefits of its leadership in quantum technologies”

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