10173352QLNC Benchmarking and Validation: Towards Scalable Quantum HardwareClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKQuantum computing has the potential to transform industries ranging from drug discovery to cybersecurity. However, one of the biggest barriers to real-world impact is hardware connectivity: current quantum processors cannot directly link distant qubits, forcing information to pass sequentially through neighbouring qubits. This slows computation and introduces significant errors, limiting practical use. We are developing Quantum Linear Network Coding (QLNC), a patented technology from the University of Oxford that solves this problem through software. QLNC enables efficient long-range communication between qubits by reprogramming how quantum information flows. Instead of relying on new or expensive hardware, it restructures quantum circuits to reduce gate count, shorten execution time, and minimise errors. This project will build a prototype version of QLNC optimised for today's quantum processors. We will work directly with leading quantum hardware providers like IBM Quantum and Rigetti Computing to test and demonstrate the benefits of QLNC on real devices. Our early tests in simulation have shown dramatic improvements: 73% fewer error-prone gates and over twice the speed when compared to conventional routing methods. By offering a performance upgrade through software, QLNC provides an affordable and scalable way to make quantum computers more useful today. It also helps maximise the value of existing quantum investments, both in the UK and globally, while reducing energy use and computational overhead. We are a diverse and highly technical team based at the University of Oxford. Our project is supported by Oxford University Innovation through the StEP programme and has already received a £5,000 runners-up grant in recognition of its commercial potential. Over the five-month project, we will benchmark QLNC against other routing methods, collaborate with hardware partners to deploy it in real applications, and share our results with both technical and general audiences. Ultimately, QLNC aims to become a core component of the quantum software stack, available through cloud services and marketplace integrations like IBM Qiskit and Amazon Braket. This project helps establish the UK as a leader in quantum software innovation and brings us closer to unlocking the true promise of quantum computing.