Oxfordshire’s ‘world-class’ quantum computing capabilities are ‘open for business’ – that was the message the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) took to Central London earlier today (21 May), as it staged its fourth House of Commons economic briefing.
It was the latest briefing held in Westminster, which sees OxLEP ‘taking the Oxfordshire economy’ to a national stage. Each event has seen OxLEP promote one of the four transformative technologies highlighted in the county’s 2017 Science and Innovation Audit.
This briefing focused on technologies underpinning quantum computing and was hosted by Banbury MP Victoria Prentis, on behalf of all Oxfordshire MPs.
The event highlighted some of Oxfordshire’s internationally-competitive quantum computing assets, including keynote discussions led by Dr Rupesh Srivastava – Technology Associate at National Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) and Dr Andrew Mackintosh – Chairman of Oxford Quantum Circuits.
Around 65 guests attended the exclusive event, including investors, foreign embassy representatives and companies working in quantum computing.
The series of House of Commons briefings have highlighted how Oxfordshire’s four transformative technologies, alongside the county’s world-class research and development capabilities, could bring major global opportunities boosting the UK economy.
The county’s Science and Innovation Audit has suggested that the transformative technologies of connected and autonomous vehicles, space and satellites, technologies underpinning quantum computing and digital health collectively has the potential to add up to £180billion GVA growth to the UK economy by 2030.
OxLEP’s first economic briefing took place in September last year, with a focus on connected and autonomous vehicles – highlighting global, Oxfordshire-based influencers Oxbotica and Street Drone – with a second briefing in January looking into the economic potential of space and satellites.
A third briefing – which looked into Oxfordshire’s digital health capabilities – took place in March.
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “The key message we will continue to take to Westminster is that Oxfordshire is very much open for business.
“With a GVA of £23billion per annum, we are one of only three net county contributors to the Exchequer, with a track record of nurturing genuine innovation and taking it to a world-stage.
“Oxfordshire is recognised globally as a place that can support innovation-led growth, greater productivity and major ‘place potential’ as we move towards an ever-increasing internationally-focussed economy.”
