Saturday 21 February 2026

Professor Andrew Daley Leads Major UK Quantum Simulation Programme

Keble Fellow, Professor Andrew Daley, is Principal Investigator of a major interdisciplinary research programme funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The Quantum Advantage in Quantitative Quantum Simulation (QQQS) programme aims to drive the next step in quantum technologies by demonstrating practical quantum advantage (where a quantum device can solve a specific problem faster or more efficiently than the best possible classical computer) using analogue quantum simulators.

Unlike traditional digital quantum computing devices, analogue quantum simulators are highly controlled devices that can be used to study models of other quantum systems in a similar way that a wind tunnel is employed for aerodynamics.

A central goal of the programme is to move analogue quantum simulation beyond proof-of-principle into regimes where it can be shown rigorously to outperform classical methods for well-defined scientific and industrial problems. This includes applications in materials science, quantum sensing and precision measurement, which are areas where classical computation struggles with complexity.

In January, the programme hosted a three-day workshop at Keble, attracting leading international experts in the field over a series of talks and poster sessions. Researchers presented cutting-edge work on quantum dynamics, complex materials, metrology and sensing, all of which are exciting areas ranging from basic science to real world applications where we hope to establish convincing evidence of practical quantum advantage over the course of the programme.

You can read more about the project on the Department of Physics website and the EPSRC UKRI gateway.