Rolls-Royce, Riverlane, and Xanadu have secured over £400,000 ($512K USD) in grant funding from Innovate UK and CAD $500,000 ($370K USD) from National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to develop applications for quantum computers in modeling air flow through jet engines. The project, named CATALYST, aims to create a hybrid quantum-classical framework, enabling faster evaluation and implementation of quantum algorithms.
This collaboration aligns with the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy Missions. Riverlane and Xanadu, existing partners with Rolls-Royce, emphasize the importance of error-corrected quantum computers. CATALYST leverages each partner’s expertise in industrial applications, quantum algorithms, and hybrid quantum-classical compilation. The project targets improving quantum algorithms to reduce the number of quantum operations required for significant applications. Rolls-Royce’s ambition is to solve equations with trillions of variables, a goal that aligns with the long-term development of quantum computing. The collaboration acknowledges that classical computers will remain integral, emphasizing the importance of accelerating quantum computation to achieve meaningful advantages.
For additional information, access the press release from the company provided here and also a blog post located on the Rolls-Royce website here.
March 11, 2024