Elham Kashefi, Chief Scientist of the UK National Quantum Computing Center, is interviewed by Yuval.
Key points are:
- Background and Role in UK National Quantum Program: Elham has been involved in the UK National Quantum Program since its inception, focusing on applications and software. She was recently elected as Chief Scientist of the NQCC.
- Scope and Uniqueness of UK National Quantum Program: The program goes beyond computing to include sensing, communications, and metrology. It stands out for its early start, patient approach, and success in talent attraction and startup formation.
- Quantum Software Lab (QSL): The lab aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, with a focus on use-case delivery. It partners with AWS and other entities through NQCC to benchmark solutions.
- Quantum-Inspired Algorithms: Elham sees these algorithms as a byproduct of the exploration for quantum advantage, not the main target.
- Blind Quantum Computing: This is a protocol for secure cloud computing in the quantum realm, providing the next level of trust and integrity for quantum computing as a service.
- Concerns and Future Outlook: Elham is concerned about changing the research direction to be more problem-driven and ensuring the "user journey" works across different sectors. She is both excited and worried about this new approach.
