New £210 million centre for AI and Quantum Computing launched

The Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI), based at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region and specialising in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, has been launched.

This new centre based in North West England is the result of a £210 million investment from the UK government and IBM and is intended to help cement the UK’s status as a leading scientific power.

The centre – a partnership between STFC and IBM – will bring together world-leading expertise in AI and quantum computing to support the application of the cutting-edge technologies in industry and the public sector, and will create vacancies for an additional 60 scientists and opportunities for students to gain invaluable hands-on experience.

Possible industry applications of quantum computing include optimising complex logistics such as picking and packing orders in large warehouses for supermarkets; traffic routing; energy distribution; improving design and manufacturing processes across automotive sectors.

The government will invest £172 million over five years through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with an additional £38 million being invested by IBM. £28 million of the Government’s investment will be in the first year.

“Artificial intelligence and quantum computing have the potential to revolutionise everything from the way we travel to the way we shop,” said Science Minister, Amanda Solloway. “This fantastic new partnership with IBM will not only help businesses get ready for the future of computing, but create 60 jobs in the region – boosting innovation and growing the economy as we build back better from the pandemic.”

“This partnership establishes our first Discovery Accelerator in Europe driven by our two UK-based IBM Research locations in Hursley and Daresbury as they contribute to our global mission of building discovery-driven communities around the world,” said Dario Gil, IBM’s Director of IBM Research.