The Reading area could become a hub for revolutionary quantum computing as the government invests millions of pounds in leading technology businesses.
The Labour government has announced that it will be investing £670 million over the next 10 years into quantum computers, which operate at much faster processing speeds than regular computers.
One of the beneficiaries is Oxford Quantum Circuits in Thames Valley Science Park, Shinfield, which was visited by Lord Patrick Vallance, a minister for science, research and innovation, earlier this week.
He explained that the promises of quantum computers, which provide much faster processing than regular computers, were initially a “twinkle in the eye”, but the technology has proved effective, with hopes of mass-producing such computers to reap the benefits they provide.
Lord Valance said: “It [the technology] is now at a stage, and this company is testament to that, where quantum computing is working. And the question is, can it scale?
“And when it does scale, that then becomes a really powerful new computing tool, as it’s thousands and thousands and thousands of times faster and more powerful than current computing.”
Of the £670 million investment announced, £500 million will be invested in the four remaining years of the Labour government.
Lord Vallance believes Reading, and the Earley and Woodley constituency where Oxford Quantum Circuits is based, could become a hub for quantum computing in general, and possibly the industrial production of these computers at scale.
He said: “I think locally what you have here is a company that’s got the potential to be a real global leader and therefore create jobs, create opportunities in the local area, we’ll need to scale the production facilities of this as well.”
“This place has been the hub of getting the challenges sorted out.
“They’re doing the technology, they are scaling here, they want to scale now into bigger manufacturing.
“As this grows, there are still some things that can be sorted out to get it there, but that could easily lead to scaling facilities here, more jobs in this area.
“This could be a really important local, national and global story.
“Clearly, we have been superb in this country at inventing things. We now want to be absolutely superb, but making sure that we are the country that develops and produces them, scales them, creates the jobs, creates the opportunities for people on the back of that.”
Lord Vallance became a prominent public figure during the coronavirus pandemic, where he regularly appeared in TV briefings held by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
His role ended in April 2023, and he was subsequently appointed a science and innovation minister last July.
Lord Vallance said: “My job as science minister is to make sure that we’re great at science, that science turns into businesses.
“If those businesses can grow in the UK, that will create jobs, economic opportunities, life, chance, opportunities for people and will benefit society for health, climate and materials.
“My job is to make sure that we do that across the UK and to get benefits for the entire country.”
