The quantum data centre of the future

Lead Participant: ORCA COMPUTING LTD.

Abstract

Data centres, and the networks and systems that surround them are the future work horse of digitised economies. The data processing that they provide is a well-known driver for economic growth, providing cutting edge storage and computing systems that increasingly underpin all aspects of business and society.

These data centres are huge system of systems, comprising thousands of components coming from a diverse, global supply chain. To account for the ever growing amount and complexity of data that needs to be processed these systems are becoming more complex and have started to incorporate novel chip sets within heterogeneous architectures to provide more efficient training of machine learning problems.

Quantum technologies, has long been described as the solution to the world's most challenging data problems. Quantum computing has the ability to significantly enhance our ability to process optimisation, machine learning and sorting problems which are beyond the reach of today's computers, and quantum communications provides the answer to ever-increasing challenges of security.

However, to date, very little activity has taken place to understand from a systems perspective how quantum technologies can integrate with existing data centres. Quantum computers and communications systems are often described in isolation, more or less at-odds with the direction of the industry for the last 50 years.

This misses the possibility for very significant near term value to be created with quantum/classical hybrid systems.

For the first time ever, this project seeks look at quantum technologies through the lens of the existing industry. It brings together experts in classical data centres and networking, quantum computing and quantum communications and will develop a blueprint for a quantum/classical hybrid data centre and a quantum internet.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

ORCA COMPUTING LTD. £4,581,451 £ 3,207,015
 

Participant

BP P.L.C. £43,020
KETS QUANTUM SECURITY LTD £1,461,046 £ 1,022,732
BP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
UNIVERSITY OF BATH £520,384 £ 520,384
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON £479,672 £ 479,672
PQSHIELD LTD £298,775 £ 209,142
DIGITAL CATAPULT £623,672 £ 623,672
NCC OPERATIONS LIMITED £175,032 £ 175,032
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON £846,453 £ 846,453
UNIVERSITY OF BATH
BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY £365,914 £ 182,957
RIVERLANE LTD £1,100,241 £ 770,169
INNOVATE UK
NCC GROUP SECURITY SERVICES LIMITED £98,600 £ 49,300
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL £808,431 £ 808,431
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON £19,948 £ 19,948

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