The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) has announced a partnership with IBM, which will provide UK researchers with cloud access to IBM Quantum’s Premium Plan.
This collaboration aims to propel new research directions by leveraging the potential of quantum computing. The NQCC is a joint initiative by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a primary objective of fostering innovative research and enabling proof-of-concept projects.
This strategic partnership will grant NQCC members access to IBM Quantum’s premium resources, including their fleet of quantum computing systems. By joining the IBM Quantum Network, the NQCC reaffirms its commitment to equipping the UK with the tools to address some of the most complex and pressing societal challenges through quantum computing.
“The agreement with IBM will enable the NQCC to provide quantum computing resources for the UK’s research community, which will open up new avenues of fundamental and applied research,” Michael Cuthbert, Director of NQCC, said.
IBM Quantum’s Premium Plan offers access to utility-scale processors with over 100 qubits, capable of tackling problems that classical computing systems may never be able to address.
“This ‘quantum utility’ gives our users the ability to explore hard problems — and to begin extracting real value,” Scott Crowder, Vice President of Adoption and Business Development at IBM Quantum, said.
This partnership aligns with the National Quantum Strategy and the commitment of £2.5 billion of investment in quantum technologies. The NQCC’s mission is to support the UK in becoming a quantum-ready nation. It seeks to provide access to quantum computing resources for UK-based organizations.
NQCC’s mission complements the STFC’s long-term partnership with IBM in the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation program. This program focuses on applying AI, data science, high-performance computing, and quantum computing to benefit UK industry and the public sector.
