The UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre’s 2024 Hackathon saw impressive results as winning teams leveraged IonQ quantum computers and Classiq’s software to develop novel quantum applications. This marks the second consecutive year that IonQ and Classiq have partnered to empower hackathon participants to design and execute cutting-edge quantum algorithms. Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ, expressed his delight, stating, “We’re proud that the best and brightest quantum computing talent in the UK used our quantum computers.
It’s inspiring to be part of an event that nurtures the next generation of quantum leaders.”
The winning teams presented quantum application use cases in areas such as risk aggregation, insurance loss evaluation, network design, and National Health Service (NHS) forecasting. Each team’s approach was evaluated based on scalability and their potential to address challenges in fields like healthcare, energy, and engineering. Dr.
Michael Cuthbert, Director of NQCC, said, “One of the objectives of our annual UK Quantum Hackathon is to drive the advancement of practical use cases, facilitating the transition of quantum computing from academia to industry. IonQ has been a key quantum processing unit (QPU) provider for the past two years, powering our hackathon winners. We congratulate all who participated in this successful event.”
The UK Quantum Hackathon, the NQCC’s flagship annual event, is part of their user engagement program called SparQ.
IonQ aids quantum application development
The event brought together over 70 coders in 13 teams, guiding them with industry mentors to tackle real-world challenges and develop solutions using quantum computing. Classiq’s software played a crucial role in simplifying the quantum circuit design process for the hackathon participants.
It allows users to define parameters before converting them into optimized circuits. Nir Minerbi, CEO and co-founder of Classiq, commented, “It is impressive to see the projects submitted by these talented students and researchers. We’re proud that our software has enabled them to achieve these winning results.”
The hackathon showcases the growing accessibility and practical applications of quantum computing.
The use of IonQ’s quantum computers and Classiq’s software by winning teams demonstrates the maturity of these technologies for real-world problem-solving. The diverse range of applications indicates quantum computing’s potential to disrupt multiple industries. The event highlights the expanding ecosystem around quantum computing and the collaboration between key players like IonQ, Classiq, and the NQCC.
It signifies a maturing market with increasing real-world uses, though the true commercial viability and scalability of these solutions remain to be seen.
