Joschka Roffe awarded EPSRC Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowship

Quantum computers hold immense potential when applied to areas such as advanced materials development and drug discovery, cryptography and optimisation. However, the single biggest bottleneck that prevents the scaling of a practical quantum computer is the errors in quantum hardware.   

The efforts to tackle this challenge will be critical to the UK government’s ambition to build full-scale quantum computers by 2035, as outlined in the National Quantum Strategy Missions. 

The aim of Joschka’s project is to advance theory and a practical methods of quantum error correction to enable reliable quantum computation despite errors in individual components (fault-tolerant quantum computer architecture). 

Dr Joschka Roffe will build a team dedicated to developing new quantum error correction strategies tailored for near-term devices, working closely with academic collaborators, the National Quantum Computing Centre, and industry partners. This will be the first group of its kind in Scotland and will provide the skills and innovation needed to translate quantum computing from theoretical blueprints into operationally useful systems.  

The project will combine research into both the theoretical foundations and practical implementation of quantum error correction. Dr Roffe’s team will collaborate with experimental groups at the National Quantum Computing Centre and the University of Strathclyde to design and carry out proof-of-concept demonstrations of quantum error correction. Researchers will develop new error correction protocols, and propose innovative solutions to engineering challenges related to classical control systems and the decoding problem. User-friendly design automation tools to streamline the incorporation of QEC into the quantum computing stack will also be built as part of this project 

On the theoretical side, the team will propose methods to reduce the resources required -- such as cost, materials, and energy consumption -- to manufacture full-scale quantum computers. This strand of the project will focus on the design of quantum low-density parity-check (QLDPC) codes as a resource-efficient alternative to standard surface code architectures, as well research on the design of efficient compilers for fault-tolerant quantum computing algorithms. 

The Fellowships are designed to accelerate researchers’ careers and fast track them towards world-leading positions in the future, ensuring the UK maintains its position as a global force in quantum technology. 

The investment in emerging leaders provides them with an invaluable opportunity to advance responsible research and innovation, making it more inclusive and equitable. In doing so, Fellows will contribute to a vibrant and interconnected UK quantum technologies community and will champion various aspects including: 

Fellows will also support innovation activities to deliver growth in the sector and maximise opportunities to build connections with industry and end-users, reducing the gap between research and commercialisation. 

The Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowship are part of £121 million backing the UK Government is announcing on Monday 14 April, World Quantum Day, for quantum technology research and innovation. 

Quantum technologies harness the unique properties of subatomic particles to process information and solve pressing problems in a new way. This financial year, the Government is spending £20.4 million on the National Quantum Computing Centre’s testbed programme with Innovate UK, with support from the Quantum Software Lab to accelerate the discovery of more ways that quantum can overhaul how we work and solve problems in a range of sectors, from crimefighting to healthcare.  

Collaborative project across the quantum ecosystem are already taking place: one of such projects sees quantum specialists at HSBC bank working with the NQCC, QSL, and hardware provider Rigetti, to investigate ways quantum can be used to detect and prevent anti-money laundering which costs the UK an estimated £36bn each year. This project is proof that, with strong support from the Government, researchers can harness quantum technologies to benefit working people, nationwide.