July 10, 2025 -- Congratulations to Heriot-Watt University’s Professor Gerald Buller, Director of the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, on his recent appointment to the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) of the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC).  

The NQCC is the UK’s National Laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development of quantum computers and helping to realise their immense potential to realise new advances in healthcare, energy, climate modelling and the development of new materials. Funded through UKRI via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the NQCC works closely with academics, government representatives and industry to support the growth of this emerging sector and help make the UK the world’s first quantum-ready economy.  

The Centre’s Strategic Advisory Committee will play a key role in realising this mission, helping shape the NQCC’s future direction and ensure its long-term success.

Professor Buller joins an esteemed panel of experts in this area, including the Committee Chair, fellow IQN investigator, Professor Ian Walmsley, recently confirmed as the lead of Oxford’s Quantum Institute; Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director of the NQCC; Mr Jonathan Legh-Smith, Executive Director for UKQuantum, a membership organisation representing the UK’s quantum industry; Professor Dominic O’Brien, Director of the national technology Hub in quantum computing (QCi3); Professor Julia Sutcliffe from the UK Government’s Department of Business and Trade; Mr Simon Andrews, Executive Director of  Fraunhofer UK Reseach; and Dr Angeli Mőller from tech strategy and business innovation company Zühlke.  

Professor Buller’s expertise in quantum communications and networking technology is reflected in his leadership of the £22M EPSRC-funded national Hub in integrated quantum networking technologies (IQN Hub), funding for which was announced last summer. The IQN Hub is a major UK-wide collaboration of 13 Universities, 2 national laboratories and over 50 industry partners. It is working to enable a secure quantum networking infrastructure at all distance scales, ranging from localised quantum computing networks through to satellite-based intercontinental communications all the way to establishment of a secure quantum “internet”.