DeepTech Unleashed EP 13: Unlocking the Logical Era of Quantum Computing with Peter Leek

DeepTech Unleashed EP 13: Unlocking the Logical Era of Quantum Computing with Peter Leek

In this episode of DeepTech Unleashed, host Christian Noske sits down with Dr Peter Leek, founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). OQC is a pioneer in the quantum space, having developed three generations of quantum computers that are currently deployed in data centres across the UK, Japan, Spain, and New York City.

Peter shares his 20-year journey as a scientist and "dreamer" who turned complex physics research into a commercial reality. The conversation explores the technical breakthroughs that make OQC's hardware unique, the challenges of navigating the intense "hype cycle" of quantum technology, and the company's ambitious goal to enable the first useful quantum applications by the end of the decade through its new OQC TITAN system.

The discussion dives deep into the philosophy of "bold innovation," the engineering hurdles of 3D circuit integration, and the evolving leadership dynamics within a high-growth deep tech startup.

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What you'll learn in this episode:

• The Scalability Breakthrough: How OQC uses a simple, innovative approach to 3D circuit integration to overcome the "wiring bottleneck" that limits traditional 2D quantum processors.
• Hype vs. Reality: Why quantum computing is both the most consequential and over-hyped technology of our time, and how to balance scientific excitement with pragmatic expectations.
• Bold Innovation: The importance of taking "calculated risks" on technical ideas that experts in the field might initially question.
• The Logical Era: What it means to move beyond experimental quantum systems into hardware purpose-built for real-world commercial impact.
• From Founder to CSO: Peter's personal evolution from a career scientist to a founder, and the importance of building a leadership team with complementary skills.

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About the Guest:

Peter Leek is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). A career scientist with over 20 years of experience in quantum computing research, Peter holds a PhD in physics and founded OQC to translate his unique intellectual property into world-changing technology. Under his scientific leadership, OQC has become a global leader in superconducting circuits, deploying scalable quantum systems to data centres and supercomputing centres worldwide.

Follow Peter Leek here. Find out more about Oxford Quantum Circuits here.