Elham Kashefi, Chief Scientist of the UK National Quantum Computing Center

Elham Kashefi, Chief Scientist of the UK National Quantum Computing Center, is interviewed by Yuval.

Read the full transcript or listen to the episode here.

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.

Read the full transcript or listen to the episode here.