Cambridge, UK – 4colors Research announced today that a consortium led by the company and comprising Airbus, DNV, NQCC, and ORCA Computing has been awarded an NQCC SparQ Grant under the 2025 STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept: SparQ Quantum Computing Call. The programme is funded by the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) in the UK. The award will support a collaborative project titled "Quantum-Accelerated Mixed-Integer Optimisation for Aircraft Loading" whose goal is to develop a quantum computing use case in aerospace logistics.
"Through the SparQ programme, NQCC is supporting important, industry-led projects that explore how quantum computing can deliver real-world impact. This consortium exemplifies the collaborative innovation needed to advance practical quantum optimisation", commented Dr Rob Whiteman, Quantum Readiness Delivery Lead, NQCC.
The project aims to demonstrate how hybrid classical–quantum computing can help solve the complex and high-impact problem of aircraft cargo loading. Optimising both what to load and where to stow it, while satisfying trim, centre-of-gravity, structural, and operational constraints, can yield substantial benefits for airlines and cargo operators. Even small improvements in this process can lead to lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions, faster turnaround times, and better utilisation of existing fleet capacity.
Aircraft loading is a challenge faced by manufacturers as well as airlines and operators. Like other combinatorial optimisation problems, it is computationally demanding yet critically important to operations. Enhancing efficiency improves payload utilisation and overall performance, making the search for better algorithms essential. This project focuses on harnessing the power of quantum computing to deliver practical and sustainable benefits for industry.
"The NQCC SparQ grant brings together partners with complementary expertise, spanning aerospace, logistics, quantum hardware, and advanced algorithms," said Dr Marcin Kaminski, Founder and CEO of 4colors Research. "We are excited to collaborate on this use case and, more broadly, to push forward quantum solutions for combinatorial optimisation."
"Hybrid quantum–classical optimisation has real potential to unlock efficiencies in complex industrial workflows," said James Fletcher, Head of Solutions Architecture at ORCA Computing. "We're pleased to contribute our photonic quantum systems to this consortium and help advance a commercially relevant use case for aerospace."
4colors Research is an algorithm technology company that develops and commercialises innovative classical and quantum algorithms for complex optimisation problems. Based in Cambridge, UK, the company partners with industry leaders worldwide to deliver solutions that combine emerging computational technologies with rigorous scientific and optimisation expertise. 4colors was the winner of the 2024 Airbus × BMW Quantum Computing Challenge and a semi-finalist in the 2025 XPRIZE Quantum Applications Competition.
DNV is a global leader and independent expert in risk management and assurance, operating in more than 100 countries, helping customers safeguard life, property, and the environment through evidence‑based decisions. DNV brings a powerful combination of domain science and digital trust capabilities, covering digital assurance, data quality and governance, interoperability and conformance testing, and applied AI/ML analytics to ensure that data, models, and software‑enabled processes are transparent, secure, and reliable across the value chain.
The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), based at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, UK, is a national facility dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing. Established as part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, the NQCC works with industry, academia and government to bridge the gap between quantum research and real-world applications, providing access to quantum computing hardware, expertise and collaborative programmes.
ORCA Computing, headquartered in London, UK, with offices in the United States, is a leading developer and provider of full-stack photonic quantum computing systems. The company delivers an innovative approach to quantum computing, providing robust, high-performance, and data center-standard systems for machine learning, generative AI and optimization workloads. ORCA Computing has successfully delivered ten on-premises quantum computers to leading global customers, including the UK National Quantum Computing Centre, Montana State University, and the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center.