king’s college london has been granted access to google A joint initiative with the National Center for Quantum Computing has enabled UK-led university research teams to access quantum hardware for research into neural systems and quantum mechanics, using Quantum AI’s Willow processor.
The project is led by Dr Eleanor Crane, Lecturer in Quantum Computing at King’s College London, and Dr Alexander Schuckert from ENS Paris. The research team, in collaboration with Dr Chris Timmerman, co-director of the UCL Center for Consciousness Research, will use the Willow processor to study quantum analogues of neurons.
The National Quantum Computing Center (NQCC) and Google Quantum AI announced the award on May 28, 2026. A call for proposals was launched in December 2025 to support UK researchers and research consortia working on applications that have the potential to accelerate progress towards useful quantum benefits.
A useful quantum advantage is that quantum computers can solve certain practical problems faster than today’s most powerful classical systems. According to an NQCC press release, this is the first time Google has partnered with a UK government agency to provide access to Willow processors.
The team at King’s College London will now work with Google Quantum AI experts to design and run experiments on Willow, with NQCC providing technical support throughout the project.
King’s project selected for Willow Access
Selected projects will investigate quantum analogs of neurons and explore how quantum computing techniques can support the study of complex quantum mechanics inspired by neural systems.
Crane and Schuckert are also co-leaders of the Google XPRIZE Quantum Applications Challenge finalist team. Kings says the team’s research will inform how quantum computers can be used to study interacting quantum systems.
Although this research connects quantum computing and computational neuroscience, the long-term scientific questions extend beyond the brain models themselves. Kings said this research could help build understanding that could support future research in materials, energy systems, solar cells and drug discovery.
Kate Alessi, vice president of Google and managing director of Google UK & Ireland, wrote on LinkedIn that the project will use Willow to “simulate quantum models of networks of neurons and test how they compare to classical models.”
Alessi added that the study “could give scientists an unprecedented opportunity to understand how the brain works at the most fundamental level.”
NQCC and Google Quantum AI support UK research
NQCC is the UK’s National Laboratory for Quantum Computing, focused on accelerating the development of quantum computing by addressing the challenges of scaling the technology. The program is jointly run by the UK Research Council for Research and Innovation, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
The center is based on the grounds of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire.
NQCC Director Dr Michael Cuthbert commented: “This initiative reflects the UK’s commitment to fostering world-class quantum research and giving researchers access to advanced quantum computing capabilities. We are excited to support King’s College London in exploring innovative applications that will help shape the future of quantum computing.”
Charina Chou, Chief Operating Officer of Google Quantum AI, added: “We see great potential for quantum computing as a new tool to help scientists advance in a variety of fields where classical computing has reached its fundamental limits. King’s has a compelling research proposal, and with the valuable support of NQCC, we look forward to contributing our quantum computing resources and expertise to accelerate this research.”
Quantum research and university collaboration
Google Quantum AI describes its mission as building large-scale, error-correcting quantum computing for problems that traditional computers cannot solve. His research includes research on superconducting transmon qubits, applications, algorithms, and quantum systems.
According to King’s, Willow is one of the few pieces of quantum hardware in the world that can support the complex simulations required for the project.
Mr. Crane commented: “We are thrilled to be working with our collaborators at Google once again, this time pushing the boundaries of what quantum computers can do beyond the capabilities of classical computers. This is currently some of the only hardware in the world capable of delivering such complex simulations, so we are grateful to the NQCC and Google for this opportunity.”
The project will now move to experimental work using Google Quantum AI and NQCC support. NQCC says it will provide technical expertise through the collaboration to help King’s team develop scientific research using Willow.
