King's College London has announced a team of researchers will work with Google Quantum AI and the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) to explore how quantum computers could help scientists better understand complex systems in areas including energy, materials science and medicine.

The team will be led by Dr Eleanor Crane, a lecturer in quantum computing at King’s Department of Physics, and use Google’s next-generation Willow quantum processor through a joint initiative between the company and the NQCC.

The project will study a mathematical analogy for neurons in the brain, examining how quantum computers can simulate interacting quantum systems. Researchers believe the work could eventually support the development of more efficient solar cells, improved energy grids and new medical treatments.

Dr Crane will co-lead the project with Dr Alexander Schuckert, associate professor in quantum computing at ENS Paris, after the pair jointly progressed from semi-finalists to finalists in Google’s international XPRIZE competition.

“We are over the moon at working once again with our collaborators at Google, this time on pushing the limits of where quantum computers could exceed the capabilities of classical computers,” said Dr Crane. “This is some of the only hardware worldwide currently which would provide such complex simulations, so we are grateful to the NQCC and Google for this opportunity.”

The initiative launched in December 2025 and invited UK researchers to apply for access to Google’s Willow processor. Organisers designed the programme to support research that could help accelerate progress towards quantum advantage, where quantum systems solve practical problems faster than traditional supercomputers.

The university said its researchers hope quantum systems will help solve scientific problems that traditional computers struggle to model, particularly where large numbers of particles interact at extremely small scales.

“We see tremendous potential in quantum computing as a new tool to help scientists make advances across a variety of fields where classical computing hits fundamental limits,” said Charina Chou, chief operating officer of Google Quantum AI. “King’s has made a compelling research proposal, and with the NQCC’s invaluable support, we’re eager to offer our quantum computing resources and expertise to accelerate this work.”

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