The sandpit was organised to address one key concern: quantum computing cannot become impactful on its own. Progress needs to be guided by sharing the challenges in application areas and determining how academia can work with stakeholders to design the full ecosystem, ensuring software, hardware, and theory come together.
To begin the event, a range of presentations were delivered to share challenges in different areas. Speakers from Rolls-Royce (Leigh Lapworth ),Volkswagen Group (Thorsten Grahs), and Siemens Digital Industries Software (A. Emre Öngüt) discussed hard computational tasks in aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, and multi-simulation. This was followed by an overview of quantum chemistry activities from Fujitsu, a broad look at defence use-cases by AWE, and advances in quantum communication at Toshiba Europe Ltd.
Following these talks on quantum applications, a series of presentations focused on hardware and the challenges faced by QuiX Quantum (Thomas van Els), Rigetti Computing (Mattia Fiorentini), Universal Quantum (represented by Lucy Robson), and Haiqu (Maciej Koch-Janusz).
Round table discussions were then held where groups discussed how software meets hardware and how to work together to address the challenges of quantum technology.
Quantum technologies are emerging as a powerful tool across many fields. To make the most of this potential, we need to focus on the problems that matter most. At SQC, we see collaboration between academia and industry as the key to doing just that.
Professor Oleksandr Kyriienko
Director of the Sheffield Quantum Centre
The University of Sheffield has a 50-year legacy in semiconductor science and quantum technologies, laying the foundation for today's world-leading research. The Sheffield Quantum Centre builds on this legacy, uniting expertise in photonics, materials, and algorithms to drive the future of quantum technology.