Insider Brief
- King’s College London was awarded access to Google Quantum AI’s Willow processor through a joint initiative with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre to support high-impact quantum computing research.
- The selected project will study quantum analogues of neurons and explore how quantum computing could help model complex neural dynamics and support new collaborations between neuroscience and quantum research.
- The initiative marks the first time Google has partnered with a British government institution to provide researchers access to the Willow processor, which is known for advances in quantum error correction.
PRESS RELEASE — The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Google Quantum AI today announced King’s College London (King’s) has been awarded access to the Willow processor as the named recipient of a joint initiative to explore novel applications for quantum computing.
Launched in December 2025, the call for proposals was created through a collaboration between the NQCC and Google Quantum AI to support pioneering research that could help accelerate progress toward useful quantum advantage. This is the point at which quantum computers can solve certain problems of practical relevance faster than today’s most powerful classical systems. This is the first time that Google has partnered with a British government institution to provide access to the Willow processor.
The initiative invited proposals from UK researchers and research consortia seeking access to Google Quantum AI’s Willow quantum processor, recognised for its world-leading advances in quantum error correction. The initiative sought ambitious, high-impact research projects capable of expanding the frontier of practical quantum computing applications.
Dr Eleanor Crane leads the winning proposal from King’s and Dr Alexander Schuckert from ENS Paris, who also co-lead a finalist team in the Google XPRIZE Quantum Applications challenge. It focuses on modelling and studying quantum analogues of neurons using the Willow processor, in collaboration with Dr Chris Timmermann, Co-Director of the UCL Centre for Consciousness Research. The research aims to investigate how quantum computing techniques could contribute to understanding complex quantum dynamics by studying a new type of problem inspired by neural systems, thereby opening new avenues for collaboration between computational neuroscience and quantum-enabled modelling.
The King’s research team will work closely with experts from Google Quantum AI to design and execute experiments on the Willow processor. The NQCC will provide technical expertise and support throughout the project to help maximise the scientific impact of the collaboration.
Congratulating the King’s team, Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director at the NQCC commented:
“This initiative reflects the UK’s commitment to fostering world-class quantum research and enabling researchers to access advanced quantum computing capabilities. We are excited to support King’s College London in exploring innovative applications that could help shape the future of quantum computing.”
Google Quantum AI COO, Charina Chou, added:
“We see tremendous potential in quantum computing as a new tool to help scientists make advances across a variety of fields where classical computing hits fundamental limits. King’s has made a compelling research proposal, and with the NQCC’s invaluable support, we’re eager to offer our quantum computing resources and expertise to accelerate this work.”
King’s College London Project Lead and Quantum Computing Lecturer, Dr Eleanor Crane, said:
“We are over the moon at working once again with our collaborators at Google, this time on pushing the limits of where quantum computers could exceed the capabilities of classical computers. This is some of the only hardware worldwide currently which would provide such complex simulations, so we are grateful to the NQCC and Google for this opportunity.”
More information can be found at: https://www.nqcc.ac.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/
