Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited Public Funding

To reach the UK governments 1-Million quantum operation(1M-QuOp) target quantum computer(QC) by 2028, and ensure further scaling to reach 1Terra QuOps by 2035, QCs must run efficient Quantum Error Correction(QEC). QEC corrects qubit errors as they accrue via qubit readout of 'syndrome qubits'. Quantum information is extremely delicate and quickly lost, therefore speed and quality of qubit error readout and processing is critical to ensure errors are quickly corrected and do not build up in the system. This is true of any qubit modality. This project integrates SEEQC's scalable readout system with a leading UK Rigetti QC, which will deliver a full-stackl QEC Readout testbed QC system whereby the key technical bottleneck of qubit readout is upgraded to providing a clear upgraded path to scale to support 1M-QuOps.

Semiconductor technology has become a critical driver of economic growth and innovation, with its applications spanning various industries, such as electronics, automotive, aerospace, and medical technology. Plasma science plays a pivotal role in semiconductor manufacturing, enabling advanced processes such as etching and deposition, which are essential for producing state-of-the-art electronic devices. However, despite the urgent need for skilled plasma scientists to support the UK's growing semiconductor industry, there is currently no cohesive national training programme in plasma science for semiconductor processing. To address this pressing need, this award will: 1. Develop a comprehensive, industry-driven curriculum: The centre will offer a tailored, hands-on curriculum that covers the theoretical foundations of plasma science, as well as its practical applications in semiconductor manufacturing. 2. Train the next generation of plasma scientists: Over an 18-month period, the centre will train 20 scientists, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to excel in plasma science for semiconductor processing. 3. Foster collaboration and innovation: By bringing together trainees, academics, and industry professionals, the centre will create a dynamic environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. This interdisciplinary approach will not only facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise but also inspire trainees to develop novel solutions to the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry. 4. Establish a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers: The centre will create an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain hands-on experience of plasma processing equipment, giving them the skills for a future career in the UK semiconductor industry. 5. Engage with the wider community: In addition to training plasma scientists, the centre will also engage with schools, colleges, and local communities to raise awareness about the importance of plasma science in semiconductor manufacturing and to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The proposed training centre therefore represents a significant investment in the future of the UK's semiconductor industry. By providing world-class training in plasma science for semiconductor processing, the centre will not only help to bridge the existing skills gap but also contribute to the long-term competitiveness and innovation of the sector. We believe that this centre will be a valuable asset to the UK, enabling us to remain at the forefront of technological advancements and maintain our position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry.

The covid 19 pandemic underlined the importance of quick and efficient development of drugs and vaccines, that are safe to deploy for wider use. Despite impressive developments during the pandemic, drug discovery remains a very long and expensive with very low probability of success. Identifying useful substances with suitable properties for specific diseases is very difficult task, even for the most powerful supercomputer. More than half of the few drugs that enter the phase of human trials, do not get approval for commercial use, with all the effort related to that going to waste. Quantum computing is a new type of supercomputer that works differently than current computers. Based on the exotic properties of quantum mechanics, they will be able to solve very complicated problems, that are currently unsolvable in a short amount of time; modelling the properties of drugs is one of these problems. Quantum computers can help scientists select and study more and better substances in order to deliver faster more efficient drugs for the benefit of all. In this project, we will develop a quantum computer and use it alongside a classical supercomputer to solve problems that are of real value to the pharmaceutical companies. SeeQC and Riverlane, two of the most successful UK-based companies developing quantum hardware and software respectively will join forces to develop a useful quantum machine. SeeQC will work with the Oxford Instruments to improve the quantum hardware, while Riverlane will develop the software to operate the quantum machine and the quantum algorithms to be used for the calculations. With the help of Merck, a global pharmaceutical company, the University of Oxford and the Medicines Discovery Catapult we will identify some of the pain points of the drug discovery process where quantum computers can help. We will solve them by interleaving our quantum machine with a very powerful supercomputer, that belongs to the Science and Technology funding Council. In this way, the most demanding part of the calculations will be solved on the quantum machine. This trick will deliver more accurate results ten times faster than standard computers. The UK is a world leader in the pharmaceutical sector and a pioneer in developing the quantum technology industry. This project is of real national value as it will boost the development of quantum computers, while showing how useful they can be in solving major problems of a very important industry.

The Altnaharra project brings together leading researchers in superconducting, ion trap and spin qubits along with a world-leading cryogenic equipment supplier and world-leading centre for measurement standards to develop a cryogenic chip for integrated qubit control and readout, manufactured in a standard CMOS foundry. The development of such a chip is a fundamental enabler for the whole quantum computing community and a requirement for creating a quantum processor not limited by IO wires and therefore able to scale sufficiently to solve meaningful problems.

Quantum information processing (QIP) will revolutionise many industries with applications ranging from drug discovery to supply chain management. However, QIP faces a technological challenge in scalability. To secure quantum advantage and a fault-tolerant general purpose quantum computer many high-fidelity qubits and sources must be controlled. UpScale brings together four commercial partners and two research organisations to address this challenge. By using a scalable integrated photonic routing and addressing platform, different QIP architectures of trapped-ions and semiconductor photon sources will be supported. The integrated photonic platform leverages decades of development in telecommunications systems and semiconductor manufacturing and is compatible with cryogenic temperature operation and multiple independent qubit systems. UpScale will develop and deploy two major and innovative integrated photonic technologies: a silicon nitride (SiN) photonic integrated chip platform and cryogenic-compatible photonic coupling and packaging. The focus of UpScale is delivery of high-TRL scalable demonstrators rather than fundamental research. It will build on several recently published results and use photonic foundry services to provide a reliable supply chain and solve technical challenges associated with scalability at the pace required for commercialisation. The project is designed to maximise return on investment by developing technological solutions for scaling of QIP systems, for the benefit of multiple commercial partners. Additional routes to market include the commercialisation of photonic systems and cryogenic packaging services.

Modern life is unthinkable without computers. An ever-increasing amount of energy is required for computing, impacting the global drive to a low-carbon economy, and Moore's law is slowing as the circuit dimensions approach physical limits. Quantum computers can create a computational space much larger than their classical counterparts. They will shape computing, science and commercial standards by solving numerical problems that are currently out of reach in fields including chemistry, material science, logistics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cryptography. The race is on to build the world's first practical quantum computers, which requires scaling from arrays of a few dozen qubits, to thousands, to millions of qubits. To achieve this, we need to create integrated systems of qubit arrays and control electronics. In most implementations, the qubits require cryogenic cooling, typically to a fraction of a degree above absolute zero. Yet conventional CMOS electronics is designed to operate at room temperature, and if these chips are cooled to cryogenic temperatures, the operating characteristics of the transistors change markedly, and they no longer work as intended. This problem is well recognised in the industry. Major players such as Google, Microsoft and Intel have all invested in progressing towards building specialised "cryo-CMOS" control electronics that can operate in the very cold environment that the qubits require. Most quantum computing companies, however, don't have the resources to develop silicon CMOS processes for cryogenic temperatures. Instead, they rely on semiconductor fabrication via foundries (e.g., TSMC, Globalfoundries), looking to various silicon IP companies to provide technology to enable them to exploit the foundries' manufacturing capability. This model has worked well for development of chips for room temperature operation, however it requires significant updating to create new designs that can work at ultra-cold temperatures. This project brings together world-leading expertise in CMOS design and quantum computing. We will create updated process design kits (PDKs) for cryogenic temperatures and an ecosystem of silicon IP products to enable chip designers to exploit foundries using the established fabless model. Thus the project will enable quantum computing companies to scale their hardware systems to create a new generation of more powerful quantum computers.

Quantum technologies are at an inflection point in technology readiness that will change the way we live, do business, and even how scientific research is conducted. Globally $2.2B are being invested every year to progress this technology. The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of developing the science and is home to world-leading experts in the manufacturing and validation of quantum technology and to world-class commercial partners across the whole supply chain from production to integration and measurement. However, the ecosystem for robust fab-ready processing of these novel devices and circuits needs further development. This project addresses this gap by leveraging links between recognized academic institutions in quantum science and engineering, industry leaders, and emerging commercial efforts in quantum computing and sensing with an aim to drive this technology towards higher readiness levels. The quantum technology platform that will be addressed in this consortium on the UK side are atomic layer deposited films for superconducting and hybrid quantum systems. These films are integrated in quantum circuits and thereby form the basis for high-coherent devices exploration academically and commercially. A second platform, albeit smaller on the UK side, are diamond NV centres to be harnessed for quantum sensing applications by the Canadian partners. Fabrication processes for manufacturing of these devices will be developed and optimized with characterization feedback using quantum technology figures of merit to ensure these materials are strongly tailored to function efficiently in quantum computers, simulators, networks, and sensors. Altogether, this project will provide an advanced manufacturing toolkit readily available for commercial exploitation by the industry partners (SMEs and startups) and new discovery means for the academic institutions.

Rigetti Computing, Oxford Instruments, Standard Chartered, Phasecraft, and the University of Edinburgh will collaborate to advance quantum computing in the UK. The team will address several key aspects of quantum computing including: 1) hardware, infrastructure, and supply chain; 2) accelerating industrial applications; and 3) developing the quantum ecosystem to help solve important but currently intractable problems. This work positions the UK as a global leader in the emerging quantum industry, expected to be £4B by 2024, growing to £350B/year by 2050\. The project's main focus area are: _**1\. Infrastructure deployment**_ Rigetti will leverage its London-based team to assemble and operate a quantum computer in the UK, accessible via the cloud. This new investment into the UK's growing technology sector is an important milestone---no commercially available quantum computing platform currently exists in the UK. To support the infrastructure, Oxford Instruments will mature cryogenic technology reliability and provide initial hosting. To maximise long-term value, the team will migrate the infrastructure to align with national strategic initiatives such as the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. _**2\. Core applications development**_ Building on the infrastructure, the applications development team will validate the value of quantum computing to end users in the UK's economy. The approach builds on academic research and industry-led quantum software capability in the UK to transition knowledge to economic value. Phasecraft, a UK quantum software start-up, will build a quantum simulation work package that brings quantum computing to end users in the most promising near-term application area---quantum chemistry. Phasecraft is a UK quantum software start-up, founded by quantum computing researchers Toby Cubitt, Ashley Montanaro, and John Morton. From the University of Edinburgh, Professor Elham Kashefi's group will deliver quantum hardware verification and testing, with a focus on machine learning applications. They will also collaborate with Standard Chartered, complementing their work on financial synthetic data generation (Kondratyev & Schwarz, "The Market Generator"). _**3\. Broad initiatives to grow the UK's quantum computing sector**_ To demonstrate value beyond this project, the consortium will develop the UK's nascent quantum ecosystem to extend industry capabilities in finance, energy, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and automotive. Through existing relationships and forums, the consortium will expand the community by delivering workshops, computing credits, and technical support, helping end users to validate their research and business concepts.

Advanced production capabilities have allowed conventional electronics based on semiconductors to become more powerful and support almost all technologies we use today, from laptops to washing machines and cutting edge medical equipment. But semiconductors are now facing hard limits as the miniaturisation of components reaches closer to the atomic scale. The limitations of these classical circuits can be overcome with quantum circuits, which utilise all the tricks of nature to open up areas in sensing, security and information processing technology that previously remained elusive. One of the most successful ways of building these quantum circuits is with superconductors, which can be built with many of the tools already used for conventional electronics and allow for a large degree of customisation to be applied to almost any area within quantum technology. Building these superconducting circuits is currently a challenging feat, requiring close to atomic level accuracy of circuit writing and total isolation from any radiation, contamination and defects that would otherwise disturb the delicate quantum state of these circuits. Furthemore, accessing cryogenic equipment and state-of-the-art electronics for verification also presents a significant up-front investment. The capacity to produce these circuits is therefore confined to academic and national labs, and a very small number of secretive commercial ventures. Whilst there are many potential business opportunities ready to be exploited in this space, the superconducting circuits' production challenges present a large barrier to entry to most companies in the UK. They simply do not have the resources available to catch-up and compete with commercially available solutions. Fortunately, the UK is home to world-leading experts in the manufacture and validation of high quality superconducting circuits, and to world-class commercial partners across the whole supply chain from production to integration and measurement. Together we are bringing the capability to produce superconducting circuits at commercial scale and quality, for a nascent quantum economy that is about to rapidly expand. To provide lower barriers to entry and empower UK-based ventures, we will develop R&D centres for businesses, as well as foundries for the purchase of superconducting devices and access to testing equipment. This unique extra capability will empower the UK as a hub for technology based on superconducting circuits, bringing in jobs and investment, and delivering a domestic supply of a technology with many strategic benefits.

Electric cars and electric power delivery need efficient electrical switching devices. Semiconductor devices can do this, but also waste some energy when switching. This project plans to demonstrate high voltage switching devices using gallium nitride (GaN), the most significant semiconductor material after silicon, in a novel device format which can operate more efficiently and switch faster than the current device hybrids based on compound semiconductors combined with silicon. Making such devices will require almost atomic precision in etching and depositing layers. The project will further develop atomic layer etching (ALE) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) tools and processes ready for the manufacture of such devices. Oxford Instruments brings its experience as a process tool manufacturer for plasma-enhanced ALD, and its recent innovation in ALE, and will develop these tools and processes. The University of Glasgow will use its expertise in device design and manufacture to demonstrate a process flow for device manufacture.

It is usually very difficult to see the subtle effects of quantum mechanics at room temperature because they are hidden by the noise of thermal agitation. For example, electrons in a circuit are constantly jostled by the atoms in the material they are moving through. However, if the circuit is cooled close to absolute zero temperature, almost 273C, then the jostling is reduced and sometimes quantum effects can shine through. In this project we will build a prototype instrument for detecting tiny magnetic fields, where the sensitivity comes from quantum effects that are revealed by cooling the sensor. Existing refrigerators that can reach this temperature are large, expensive and complicated. Our instrument will be smaller, cheaper and easier to operate. The project combines a team from Oxford Instruments, experts in providing low temperatures enviroments with advanced cryogenic engineering, with a team from Lancaster University who are skilled in exploiting these low temperatures to manipulate and control the quantum behaviour of electronic circuits. Together we will build a prototype to demonstrate how low temperature quantum technologies can be used in a real sensing product.

Graphene enabled Quantum resistance system will provide the high-end electronics instrumentation industry with a primary resistance standard which can be used directly on the factory floor dramatically reducing the calibration traceability chain and improving the precision of electronics instrumentation. The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is one of the most fundamental phenomena in solid-state physics. Its observation in graphene was the litmus test that proved that this material is a true 2-dimensional crystal of the highest quality. The QHE is also the cornerstone of electrical metrology as it is the primary realisation of the unit for resistance, the ohm. The proposed turnkey system will be cryogen free and operating at low magnetic fields. It will enable resistance calibration with unprecedented accuracy to indusrial companies and reduce the cost and time from design to product.

It is usually very difficult to observe the subtle behaviour of quantum mechanics at room temperature because the effects are drowned out by the noise of thermal agitation. For instance the electrons moving in a circuit are forever being jostled by the atoms of the material that they are moving through. However, if we can cool the circuit down to very low temperatures close to absolute zero, almost -273C, then sometimes the quantum effects can shine through as the jostling is reduced. This project brings together a team from Oxford Instruments, experts in providing these low temperatures enviroments with advanced cryogenic engineering, and a team from Lancaster University, skilled in exploiting these low temperatures to manipulate and control the quantum behaviour of electronic circuits. Together we will develop a new product that will allow other users to gain access to the ultra-low temperature environment isolated from its surrounding. Further, we will demonstrate that this new product will provide the ideal environment for new types of sensor technology whose performance is enhanced by quantum mechanics.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

The project is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, Sharp Laboratories Europe, Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology and Aptamer Solutions. The project will develop a prototype device for the diagnosis and management of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The device will measure the amounts of clinically relevant biomarkers in a drop of patient blood and enable faster assessment and more timely treatment. This will significantly reduce the risk that the patient needs to be hospitalised, thus greatly improving their quality of life. The approach used in our project is also applicable to other diseases, so in the longer term the technology has the potential to provide cheap home testing kits for a range of diseases. The project therefore aims to provide the technological means for a transition to a healthcare system in which regular screening for complex diseases enables prevention and early intervention.

Awaiting Public Project Summary