Festival season finds Quantum Software Lab in high spirits

The Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh is witnessing rapid growth and success. With a strategic partnership to the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), the lab has become a global hub for developing software that harnesses the potential of emerging quantum computers. Its team of over 70 researchers spans various domains, including applications, algorithms, theory, and software.

In 2025, the QSL launched the Quantum Fringe festival, modeled after Edinburgh's Fringe festival, to showcase quantum-inspired events. The festival, which has grown each year, consists of 16 events that foster collaboration among diverse participants, including researchers, scientists, government and industry officials, and students.

The cross-cutting ethos is evident in collaborative workshops that bring together experts from various sectors and backgrounds, fostering knowledge exchange and new connections between research and business communities.

One such workshop focused on quantum error correction (QEC) applications and integration challenges in the defense sector, bringing together academics and industry experts. Another workshop, organized by the QCi3 research hub, welcomed over 120 researchers from the UK and Europe to discuss practical methods for QEC.

The QSL also emphasizes education, hosting events to inspire the next generation of quantum researchers. A summer school for high-school students provides insights into research careers and hands-on coding experience. Meanwhile, a week-long event offers postgraduate students and early-career researchers a deep-dive into quantum informatics.

The festival also includes an evening of music and poetry inspired by quantum physics concepts, performed by Erika Andersson, a quantum researcher at Heriot-Watt University, and computer scientist Ruth Aylett. The performance, titled "Quantum Worlds," received positive feedback for making complex scientific ideas more approachable. Overall, the Quantum Fringe festival highlights the QSL's role in advancing quantum computing and building a thriving ecosystem around it.