Monday 24 March 2025, 2–3pm

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Quantum technologies are nearing the phase of commercialisation where technology adoption and business model design are becoming a major topic among practitioners and policymakers. Quantum technologies exploit the properties of quantum mechanics to provide new capabilities in computing, communications, sensing, imaging and timing. The talk will explore the potential impact of quantum computing in transforming the way firms create and capture value in order to increase productivity and economic growth. Quantum computing provide fundamentally new ways of processing information. In doing so, quantum computing promises societal benefits ranging from a step change in optimisation and better simulation of materials to improvements in machine learning capabilities. Based on the experience of previous general-purpose technologies, there is often a steep learning curve to innovate business models to contribute to productivity and economic growth. The talk will discuss the opportunities as well as challenges of quantum computing for firms and policymakers.

Chander Velu is Professor of Innovation and Economics at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. He heads the Business Model Innovation Research Group at the IfM. Chander has an interest to study the business and economic implications of emerging technologies. Chander is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Senior Fellow at The Conference Board. Prior to joining the IfM, Chander was a member of the faculty at Cambridge Judge Business School. He has worked as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Booz Allen & Hamilton in London.