Quantum Advantage at Scale, the UK roadmap towards tera-QuOp capability

by Dr Michael Cuthbert (NQCC, UK)

Wednesday 21 Jan 2026, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/London

117 (Physics West)

The speaker will describe the roadmap toward large scale fault tolerant quantum computing for the UK, identify likely technical challenges and talk through elements of the National Quantum Computing Centre’s programme supporting scaling and unblocking some of the key challenges facing the sector.

Speaker: Michael is Director of the National Quantum Computing Centre, a national laboratory established in 2020 and jointly funded by EPSRC and STFC. Based at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the centre addresses the challenges of scaling quantum computing — both the technology and its adoption.

Before joining the centre, Michael spent 22 years at Oxford Instruments, holding technical and commercial leadership roles in Japan, the US and the UK. His most recent role was Head of Quantum Technologies.

Michael has a background in superconductivity and cryogenic systems. He holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from Imperial College London. He is a member of the Institute of Physics and sits on several advisory panels, including the National Quantum Technologies Programme Board, NPL Science & Technology Advisory Council, the IEEE IRDS Roadmapping Committee for Cryoelectronics, and the Research Data Advisory Board for Cancer Research UK.

From 2021 to 2025, he was Aegis Professor in Quantum Technologies at the University of Bristol.