The UK risks losing its potential to become a leader in the global economy. quantum computing field without additional government support to build sovereign technology capabilities, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee heard.
The committee exists to examine the findings and policies of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The committee is conducting an investigation to identify the technology areas it believes DSIT should champion as it works to establish itself as the new “digital center of government.”
As part of this work, a committee hearing on 14 October focused attention on what needs to be done to ensure the UK does not miss out on its potential to become a leader in quantum computing.
Introducing the session, committee member and Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley described quantum computing as a “new and transformative technology” in which the UK is in a “very unusual position” as “potentially world leaders”.
“This is an opportunity to not make the same mistakes that we made as an AI country. [artificial intelligence] and lose control over other nationalities, but in order to strengthen British leadership,” Wrigley said.
This line of conversation was then expanded during the evidence hearing by an oral statement from Sebastian Weidt, CEO and co-founder of Haywards Heath-based company Universal Quantum.
The company is focused on creating what Weidt calls modular and general-purpose quantum computers that can be used to speed drug development by pharmaceutical firms, streamline supply chains and help governments strengthen national security.
“Our goal, to be very clear, is not to build a billion-pound company. [but] With the right support, we have the opportunity to build a billion-pound company here in the UK,” said Weidt, “The impact on society could be profound.”
And this is entirely possible to achieve in the UK, he continued, but not without urgent action.
“We have the science, the talent and the entrepreneurial initiative, but make no mistake, this is a global race,” he said. “The UK has an unfair advantage with home-grown talent, but risks losing it if decisive action fails.”
Universal Quantum began as an organization that grew out of a university. and has now become “a globally recognized leader in modular quantum architectures,” Weidt said.
“We have factories in Germany, the USA, Denmark and [we are in the] the process of expanding our efforts within the EU and in Asia,” he continued.
“These countries have become the main supporters of Universal Quantum, as evidenced, for example, by contracts worth more than 70 million euros with Germany. And yet here in the UK… [in terms of government support] the contrast is striking.”
Veidt continued: “The UK is rich in scientific talent. Our universities, our research base… all of this gives the UK a really strong foundation in quantum technology, but there are challenges that we must overcome if we are to avoid losing key quantum computing capabilities to foreign players.”
Elaborating on the theme, he said the UK needed to “go further” than simply building quantum research and development centers that other countries could use to “achieve quantum supremacy”.
Weidt says the UK needs to create its own “true sovereign quantum capability” through “the creation and acquisition of virtual and quantum computers made in Britain.”
But there are a number of problems and obstacles. To make this possible, these challenges will need to be overcome, including speeding up the time it takes for quantum computing players to access investment, with Weidt calling institutions such as the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund “too slow and risk averse” on this front.
“In an area where other countries are acting urgently, the speed of implementation is as important as the scale of the commitment,” he said. “If these institutions acted as high-growth lead investors, it would unlock significant follow-on capital already available in the markets.”
From an infrastructure perspective, Weidt says it is important to build quantum capacity in the UK, as well as produce quantum computers for global export.
“Let us leave the hardware development, tools, knowledge and talent on our shores and export the subsequent discoveries,” he said.
On this point, he said it's worth noting that Germany has a contract with Universal Quantum to build machines for it, but the UK does not, and the lack of government support for the quantum computing sector could stymie the industry.
“When we work with foreign governments on major deals, they often ask if we have high-level government support,” he said. “This has not always been easy to demonstrate. Greater coordination between commercial participation and government-level financial support would greatly enhance our ability to export great British innovation.”
Weidt added: “None of these issues are theoretical… these are practical steps that will help us ensure the UK maintains a sovereign quantum computing capability. They will show investors and international partners [we are] is serious about leading in this area.”
