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  • Oxford Ionics | High Performance Quantum Computing

    Oxford Ionics are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable. Building the world's most powerful quantum computers LEARN MORE CONTACT SALES . What we do Quantum computers are the most powerful form of computer that the laws of nature allow. Quantum computing will improve productivity, sustainability and quality of life by transforming our ability to tackle real-world problems across fields including chemistry, logistics and finance. Only one technology platform has achieved the performance needed to unlock this massive potential: Trapped Ions. …but ions have been hard to scale. Until now. Oxford Ionics' unique approach combines the world-leading performance of trapped ion qubits with the scalability of semiconductor manufacturing. We create quantum computers with unparalleled performance that scales. OUR TECH OUR TEAM CAREERS NEWSROOM Latest news 18/03/25 UK Science Minister Opens Oxford Ionics HQ Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation officiated the grand opening of the new HQ located in Oxford. UK Science Minister Opens Oxford Ionics HQ 11/03/25 Oxford Ionics selected for Quantum Missions Pilot The Q-Surge consortium, led by Oxford Ionics, was selected by the UK’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSIT). Oxford Ionics selected for Quantum Missions Pilot 06/12/24 Oxford Ionics and Quanscient partner with Airbus Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today announced it is working together with Quanscient, a leading provider of multiphysics simulation software, and aerospace manufacturer Airbus to develop quantum simulations for computational fluid dynamics. Oxford Ionics and Quanscient partner with Airbus GO TO NEWSROOM > Latest news OUR TECHNOLOGY Launching a new age of computing FIND OUT MORE > OUR TEAM Our people are the key to our success FIND OUT MORE > Join the team We are always looking for talented people to join the Oxford Ionics team. If you're passionate and great at what you do, we want you. JOIN US

  • Careers | Oxford Ionics

    At Oxford Ionics we are always looking for determined, motivated, and ambitious individuals to work with us. CAREERS Disc over y our pote ntial CURRENT VACANCIES LEARN MORE . WORKING WITH US A quantum leap in your career Our team is the foundation of our success, and we're seeking talented, enthusiastic individuals who share our vision and passion. Join us to work alongside world-class scientists and engineers, tackling the biggest challenges in quantum computing. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of science, shaping the future of quantum technology and leading the global push towards quantum computing. To achieve this, we need the very best skills, and in return, we offer an exciting journey at the cutting edge of the technological revolution. WHY 2 WORKING WITH US Shape the future We're organised into eight teams, each focusing on a unique part of our mission to create the world's most powerful, accurate, and reliable quantum systems. We leverage expertise in our highly collaborative environment to tackle complex engineering and scientific challenges. Discover where you can best contribute your skills to achieve our mission and make a significant impact. QUANTUM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING QUANTUM PROCESSOR ENGINEERING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING QUANTUM INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS & FINANCE QUANTUM ARCHITECTURE STRATEGY ELECTRONICS WHY 3 WORKING WITH US Our culture We promote a culture of excellence, determination, and innovation where everyone feels respected and valued. We work on very difficult problems but also take time to unwind through our regular social events. These include our family-friendly summer party and a winter retreat to celebrate our achievements and connect with colleagues and their families. JOIN THE TEAM Open Positions Please find a list of our current job openings below; click on job titles to be taken to the job application page. We're always looking for exceptional talent as we expand our team in the US. If you're interested in opportunities in Boulder, Colorado, we'd love to hear from you. Explore our open positions, and if nothing fits right now, feel free to contact our talent team at careers@oxionics.com . Benefits We are leading the way in quantum technology and need skilled, innovative individuals like you. We offer our UK employees a wide range of benefits and aim to extend these to our US team wherever possible. These include: Employee Share Options You will be eligible to receive an award of Employee Share Options, which will vest over your employment and allow you to participate in the company's success. Enhanced Pension We operate a defined contribution pension scheme where we match contributions of up to 7% towards your pension. Enhanced New Parent Leave Our gender-neutral policy gives up to 26 weeks on full pay for anyone welcoming a new child to the family, whether through birth, adoption, fostering, surrogacy or otherwise. Enhanced Annual Leave The wellbeing of our team is important to us. As part of our flexible work policy, everyone receives 30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays. Flexible Working We recognise that everyone's needs are unique, and our approach to work reflects this understanding. Depending on your role, you can choose either an on-site or hybrid format with flexible working hours around our core hours. Private Dental Insurance We provide comprehensive dental insurance and cover 100% of the premium for our employees. Private Medical Insurance We provide comprehensive, excess-free, history-disregarded private medical insurance, offering the highest level of coverage for you and your family. Group Life Assurance We care about your wellbeing and your family. Our policy provides financial security by offering a payment of five times your salary in the event of your death, ensuring peace of mind for your loved ones. Free Lunches Daily We provide lunch options, healthy snacks and treats every day, catering for all preferences and dietary requirements. OUR PRINCIPLES Equality, Diversity & Inclusion We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion because we believe that integrating diverse experiences, ideas, and perspectives within our team drives innovation. OUR COMMITMENT Our strength lies in our diversity. Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is integral to our mission of creating groundbreaking quantum computing technology. We strive to build an inclusive environment where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. OUR APPROACH We have established policies and practices to ensure all team members have equal opportunities to thrive. We prioritise creating a supportive and welcoming workplace where diverse perspectives are not only heard but celebrated and where continuous learning is promoted. We empower our employees to bring their authentic selves to work by encouraging open dialogue and creating an environment where everyone can succeed. OUR ACTIONS We turn our commitment into actions. We regularly review and update our policies to reflect our dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We partner with professional networks to stay updated on best practices and actively participate in events that promote these values. We conduct regular assessments to measure our progress and maintain accountability through transparent reporting. We offer enhanced benefits such as gender-neutral parental leave, flexible working options, and uncapped annual leave to support our team's diverse needs. JOIN THE TEAM Career FAQs DO YOU OFFER VISA SPONSORSHIP? Yes, we can support some of our UK-based positions with working visas and hire individuals from around the globe. Our Talent Team can discuss this further during the recruitment process. DOES OXFORD IONICS SUPPORT INTERNSHIPS? Unfortunately, due to our current research commitments and operational capacity, we’re unable to provide internships or placements at this time. This may change in the future, so please keep an eye on our careers page for new opportunities. DO YOU OFFER HYBRID WORKING? Each position is unique and may require different time spent in the office and laboratories. We are happy to discuss supporting fully remote work on a case-by-case basis for certain positions. Please add details on this topic to your application. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER APPLICATION TIPS? We want to get to know your authentic self, your skills, and your experience. Highlight your motivations and how you could bring value to the business. WHAT IF I DON'T SEE A POSITION I QUALIFY FOR? We’re always excited to hear from people who might be interested in future opportunities, so please get in touch. You can send a speculative CV or start an informal chat with our Talent Team by contacting careers@oxionics.com . DO YOU WORK WITH RECRUITMENT AGENCIES? Our internal Talent Team doesn’t accept inbound CVs from external parties or recruitment agencies. Any unsolicited CVs sent to us will be treated as the property of Oxford Ionics, and any attached terms and conditions will be null and void. JOIN THE TEAM CAREERS WORKING WITH US JOIN THE TEAM BENEFITS INCLUSION Career FAQs CURRENT VACANCIES

  • Media coverage | Oxford Ionics

    We are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable. Media coverage The Quantum Apocalypse is Coming. Be Very Afraid 24/03/25 | WIRED Button UK firms have 10 years to prepare for quantum cyber attacks, security experts warn 20/03/25 | UKTN Button Quantum computing firm hosts science minister for opening of Oxford HQ - adding to offices in US and Switzerland 20/03/25 | Insider Media Button Archiving achievement 19/03/25 | BBC Tech Life Button UK Science Minister Unveils Oxford Ionics Global Headquarters 18/03/25 | The Quantum Insider Button UK risks lagging behind in global quantum computing race 18/03/25 | The Times Button Oxford Ionics Selected For Uk Quantum Missions Pilot To Enhance NQCC Testbed With Advanced 2D Ion Trap Technology 12/03/25 | The Quantum Zeitgeist Button Oxford Ionics Leads Q-Surge Consortium to Upgrade NQCC Testbed with 2D Ion Traps 12/03/25 | Quantum Computing Report Button How quantum will change engineering 11/03/25 | Institution of Mechanical Engineers Button Oxford Ionics chosen for Quantum Missions to enhance NQCC Testbed 11/03/25 | Startups Magazine Button Oxford Ionics Selected For Quantum Missions Pilot to Upgrade NQCC Testbed with 2D Ion Traps 11/03/25 | HPC Wire Button Oxford Ionics Selected For Quantum Missions Pilot to Upgrade NQCC Testbed 11/03/25 | The Quantum Insider Button UKRI and Innovate UK Award Over $15M to Fund 10 Projects Through the Quantum Missions Pilot Program 11/03/25 | The Quantum Insider Button Quantum-as-a-service: Is your business ready? 20/02/25 | Verdict Button Quantum computers have finally arrived, but will they ever be useful? 11/02/25 | New Scientist Button How Airbus & Oxford Ionics are Shaping Quantum Flight Design 07/02/25 | Technology Magazine Button International Year of Quantum Launched by UN 04/02/25 | IOT World Today Button Wave Photonics Announces Silicon Nitride Process For Quantum Photonics With PDK 27/01/25 | The Quantum Insider Button Quantum Pioneers 2.0 27/01/25 | Quantum Zeitgeist Button Could the UK lead the world in quantum computing? Chris Ballance, Oxford Ionics 21/01/25 | UKTN Button LOAD MORE

  • News & Events | Oxford Ionics

    We are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable. News & events ANNOUNCEMENTS LATEST UK Science Minister Opens Oxford Ionics HQ Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation officiated the grand opening of the new HQ located in Oxford. READ MORE > 06/12/24 Oxford Ionics and Quanscient partner with Airbus Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today announced it is working together with Quanscient, a leading provider of multiphysics simulation software, and aerospace manufacturer Airbus to develop quantum simulations for computational fluid dynamics. 26/11/24 Oxford Ionics awarded Business Innovation Award from IOP The company received the award last night during a reception at the Palace of Westminster attended by members of the IOP and senior UK policymakers. 11/11/24 Oxford Ionics CEO & Co-Founder to speak at Web Summit 2024 Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today announced its co-founder and CEO, Chris Ballance, will be speaking at WebSummit this week in Lisbon, Portugal. ALL ANNOUNCEMENTS > IN THE NEWS The Quantum Apocalypse is Coming. Be Very Afraid 24/03/25 | WIRED Button UK firms have 10 years to prepare for quantum cyber attacks, security experts warn 20/03/25 | UKTN Button Quantum computing firm hosts science minister for opening of Oxford HQ - adding to offices in US and Switzerland 20/03/25 | Insider Media Button Archiving achievement 19/03/25 | BBC Tech Life Button UK Science Minister Unveils Oxford Ionics Global Headquarters 18/03/25 | The Quantum Insider Button ON LINKEDIN ALL MEDIA COVERAGE > WHERE TO FIND US There are no upcoming events that fit this criteria just now, please try again later! All upcoming events UK US Europe NQCC Quantum Computing Scalability 2025 2-4 APR 2025 Keble College, Oxford, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 4th Annual Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 13-14 MAY 2025 Business Design Centre, London, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE GRC Atoms and Molecules, Precision Measurements and Quantum Science 2025 15-20 JUN 2025 Salve Regina University, RI, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Q2B Silicon Valley 2025 9-11 DEC 2025 Santa Clara, CA, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Conference on Quantum Computing for Natural Science 9-11 APR 2025 Copenhagen, Denmark GO TO EVENT WEBSITE ISC High Performance 2025 10-13 JUN 2025 Hamburg, Germany GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 8th European Conference on Trapped Ions (ECTI) 8-12 SEP 2025 Amsterdam, Netherlands GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Quantum.Tech USA 15-16 APR 2025 Conrad Hotel, Washington D.C., USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 56th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP) 16-20 JUN 2025 Portland, OR, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Quantum.Tech Europe 29-30 SEP 2025 Rotterdam, Netherlands GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Quantum.Tech USA 15-16 APR 2025 Conrad Hotel, Washington D.C., USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Q2B Silicon Valley 2025 9-11 DEC 2025 Santa Clara, CA, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 56th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP) 16-20 JUN 2025 Portland, OR, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE GRC Atoms and Molecules, Precision Measurements and Quantum Science 2025 15-20 JUN 2025 Salve Regina University, RI, USA GO TO EVENT WEBSITE NQCC Quantum Computing Scalability 2025 2-4 APR 2025 Keble College, Oxford, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 4th Annual Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 13-14 MAY 2025 Business Design Centre, London, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE NQCC Quantum Computing Scalability 2025 2-4 APR 2025 Keble College, Oxford, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE ISC High Performance 2025 10-13 JUN 2025 Hamburg, Germany GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Conference on Quantum Computing for Natural Science 9-11 APR 2025 Copenhagen, Denmark GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 8th European Conference on Trapped Ions (ECTI) 8-12 SEP 2025 Amsterdam, Netherlands GO TO EVENT WEBSITE 4th Annual Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 13-14 MAY 2025 Business Design Centre, London, UK GO TO EVENT WEBSITE Quantum.Tech Europe 29-30 SEP 2025 Rotterdam, Netherlands GO TO EVENT WEBSITE

  • Events | Oxford Ionics

    We are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable. Events Learn where to find us: All upcoming events UK US Europe

  • Team | Oxford Ionics

    Our people are the key to our success. Their expertise, wellbeing, and passion have a significant impact on everything we do, and ultimately on our success as a company. OUR PEOPLE MEET THE TEAM Our people are the key to our success LEARN MORE . Building a full-stack quantum computer is not just a physics problem, nor is it just an engineering problem or just a computer science problem: it’s a messy combination of all these things. We are experts in the messy spaces in between these fields . LEADERSHIP Leadership EXECUTIVE TEAM Dr Chris Ballance and Dr Tom Harty FOUNDERS: CEO & CTO Chris (CEO) and Tom (CTO) have been working together at the forefront of Quantum Computing for over a decade. They earned their PhDs in Quantum Computing from the University of Oxford focussing on trapped ion quantum computing. During this time they set world records including the highest performance quantum logic gates, longest qubit memory coherence time, fastest and highest performance quantum network. They founded Oxford Ionics in 2019 to continue the journey towards world-changing quantum computers. Dylan Murphy CFO Dylan is a Chartered Accountant and fellow of the ICAEW with a MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge. He has over 10 years experience in startups, following finance leadership roles in larger corporations such as KPMG and TalkTalk. Emma Forster COO Emma is an expert generalist with over 15 years experience in SMEs, specialising in enabling deep-tech startups to successfully scale and realise their vision. She has an MA from Goldsmiths College London. Chris Goodings VP ENGINEERING Chris has over two decades of experience managing high-performing engineering teams and implementing product roadmaps at disruptive businesses. With a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge, Chris’ background includes senior positions at leading semiconductor companies including NVIDIA and Graphcore. OUR TEAMS Teams Our people are the key to our success. Their expertise, wellbeing, and passion have a significant impact on everything we do, and ultimately on our success as a company. SCIENCE ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS Our science team is made up of some of the best minds in the quantum computing world. They work on every level of our quantum computer design: from designing microchips, to developing novel quantum logic gates, to planning how we will architect the 1000+ qubit devices of the future. From cutting-edge design to hands-on prototyping, our engineering teams work across disciplines from software, to photonics and electronics, to design and build our state-of-the-art quantum systems. Working across lasers, vacuum systems, mechanics and electronics, our infrastructure team designs, builds and maintains the systems that underpin every aspect of our technology. Our operations and finance teams are working across the organisation to ensure everything is running smoothly and that we’re successfully executing our vision. From restocking the fridge to managing our funding rounds, recruiting new team members to running company events - Ops and Finance lead on everything that isn’t actually building Quantum Computers. OUR PEOPLE Meet some of the team David Allcock DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE FOR NORTH AMERICA David heads up our US office and is an expert in electronic qubit control technology. He holds an Assistant Professorship at the University of Oregon, previously worked in the storied Ion Storage Group at NIST, and has a PhD from The University of Oxford. MEET THE TEAM Join the team We are always looking for talented people to join the Oxford Ionics team. If you're passionate and great at what you do, we want you. JOIN US OUR PEOPLE LEADERSHIP OUR TEAMS MEET THE TEAM

  • UK Science Minister Opens Oxford Ionics HQ

    Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation officiated the grand opening of the new HQ located in Oxford. Newsroom 18 March 2025 UK Science Minister Unveils Oxford Ionics' Global Headquarters Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation officiated the grand opening of the new HQ located in Oxford. OXFORD, 18th March, 2025: Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today unveiled its new 30,000 square foot global headquarters in Oxford yesterday afternoon. Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation officiated the event, formally cutting the ribbon alongside Oxford Ionics’ CEO Chris Ballance, and CTO Tom Harty. More than 100 guests attended the grand opening, including representatives from the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), as well as leading figures from across the global quantum computing ecosystem. During the event, attendees heard remarks from both Minister Vallance and Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director of the NQCC, who shared their perspectives on the rapidly growing quantum industry and the impact of high-performing quantum computers on the UK’s economy. Attendees also received a tour of one of Oxford Ionics’ quantum computers, Quartet, which will be delivered to the NQCC later this month. Quartet will be deployed as part of the NQCC’s testbed programme at the Harwell campus, which has a long history of adopting the latest innovations in high-performance computing. The NQCC’s team will use Quartet to develop new quantum applications and research to supercharge high performance compute, working in tandem with government and national stakeholders. Located in Oxford Technology Park, the new space encompasses over 30,000 square feet of offices, labs, and manufacturing facilities – housing up to 150 employees and with the capacity to house a world leading quantum data centre as Oxford Ionics’ rapidly commercialises its technology. The location will serve as Oxford Ionics’ global headquarters, joining offices in Boulder, CO and Switzerland. UK Science Minister Lord Vallance commented: "The opening of Oxford Ionics' new headquarters represents a new chapter in the UK’s rich history of quantum computing innovation. The work happening here will support our Plan for Change, through the commercialisation of quantum computers that will create jobs and boost our economy. This facility is further evidence of the UK’s world-leading expertise in quantum, and how this is pulling investment into the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and beyond.” Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics, added: “ This exciting milestone for Oxford Ionics is the culmination of a landmark year for us, which saw us close $20m in system sales and set world records in the three most important metrics of quantum computing performance. But we’re just getting started. This new facility will be the home to our ongoing innovation as we execute on an ambitious roadmap, and we’re excited to continue accelerating towards an era of market-catalysing quantum computing from this new location.” About Oxford Ionics Oxford Ionics was co-founded in 2019 by Dr Tom Harty and Dr Chris Ballance who both hold world records in quantum breakthroughs. The team includes 60 global experts across physics, quantum architecture, engineering and software and expects to triple headcount over the next 18 months as the business scales internationally. Oxford Ionics has raised £37 million to date with investors including Braavos, OSE, Lansdowne Partners, Prosus Ventures, 2xN, and Hermann Hauser (founder of chip giant ARM). In 2024, Oxford Ionics rapidly commercialised its technology, selling full-stack quantum computers to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Germany’s Cyberagentur. The company also holds the world records in the three most important metrics for quantum performance: single- and two-qubit gate fidelity and quantum state preparation and measurement (SPAM). For more information, visit our website www.oxionics.com Press Contacts GENERAL PRESS ENQUIRIES media@oxionics.com ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  • Oxford Ionics selected for Quantum Missions Pilot

    The Q-Surge consortium, led by Oxford Ionics, was selected by the UK’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSIT). Newsroom 11 March 2025 Oxford Ionics selected for Quantum Missions Pilot to upgrade NQCC testbed with advanced 2D ion traps The Q-Surge consortium, led by Oxford Ionics, was selected by the UK’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSIT). The project, called ‘Q-Surge’, will enable a powerful upgrade to the ion trap technology used in the Oxford Ionics quantum computer, ‘Quartet’, which will be delivered to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) later this month The Q-Surge consortium, led by Oxford Ionics with participation from Riverlane and Bay Photonics, was selected by the UK’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSIT) as part of the National Quantum Strategy Missions initiative OXFORD, 11th March, 2025: Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today announced that it has been selected by the UK’s DSIT and Innovate UK for the Quantum Missions pilot to unlock scalable and commercially-useful quantum computing. The Quantum Missions Pilot programme is investing in quantum computing and projects that remove technological barriers to large-scale commercialisation and adoption of quantum technologies. Oxford Ionics was selected for its ‘Quantum Testbed Advancements Through 2D Trapping Architecture’ project, or ‘Q-Surge’, with participation from Quantum Error Correction (QEC) company Riverlane and photonics assembly and packaging company Bay Photonics. In order to unlock the commercial impact of quantum computing, today’s quantum computers must continue to rapidly scale to thousands of qubits without affecting speed or performance. The key to maintaining performance over rapid scaling lies with efficient design of ‘qubit routing’, or the way in which processors move information around the chip. Oxford Ionics has addressed this by engineering efficient 2D qubit connectivity, along with highly parallel ‘Electronic Qubit Control’ – a novel, patented technology which uses electronics, and not lasers, to manipulate its qubits. This allows the company to maintain high computational throughput as it scales to much larger qubit counts. The Q-Surge project will build on this fundamental work, adding innovations in packaging and QEC to further enhance scalability and performance for large-scale devices. The Q-Surge consortium combines record-breaking quantum chips with leading innovators in QEC and fabrication and packaging techniques for manufacturing these chips. Oxford Ionics is the market leader in trap design, routing, and high fidelity gate performance – it currently holds the world records in all three of quantum computing’s super metrics: single-gate fidelity, two-qubit gate fidelity, and quantum state preparation and measurement . Riverlane develops cutting-edge solutions for QEC, and will apply this expertise to support the consortium in making architectural design choices for optimal QEC performance. Bay Photonics pioneers advanced packaging solutions for quantum technologies and will provide novel techniques to realise the electrical, photonic, and electrostatically shielded packaging of these high-density quantum devices. The output of this project will be used to upgrade Oxford Ionics’ trapped-ion quantum computer Quartet, which the NQCC purchased as part of its testbed programme, and which will be delivered later this month. In addition to upgrading the testbed technology, the Q-Surge project will remove the critical bottleneck of qubit routing, yielding a path towards quantum computers capable of executing 1 trillion operations and beyond. Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics, commented : “Oxford Ionics has been at the forefront of innovative, powerful chip design and manufacture for the past 5 years. We are thrilled to lead the Q-Surge consortium to apply this expertise by engineering our 2D ion traps at scale in order to remove one of the most critical barriers to market-catalysing quantum computers: qubit routing. We are especially excited to implement this technology as an upgrade to the quantum computer we are delivering to the NQCC later this month. Together with Riverlane and Bay Photonics, these pioneering innovations represent a significant step towards unleashing the full potential of quantum computing for widespread commercial use.” Dr Steve Brierley OBE, Founder & CEO, Riverlane: “ At Riverlane, we are laser focused on solving quantum error correction, the single biggest challenge standing in the way of useful quantum computing. Q-Surge is an important step toward building truly scalable quantum systems and we are proud to bring our expertise to this new consortium. By helping optimise Oxford Ionics' cutting-edge 2D ion trap architecture for quantum error correction, the consortium is making it possible to harness the full power of quantum computing sooner.” Dr Andrew Robertson, CTO of Bay Photonics, commented : “Having been a key supporter of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme since its launch in 2014, we are now reaching pivotal commercialization milestones that demand robust, scalable packaging and assembly solutions for real-world deployment. This transition from research to application is critical, and Bay Photonics is at the forefront, delivering precise, high-performance photonic integration to enable the next generation of quantum technologies.” About Oxford Ionics Oxford Ionics was co-founded in 2019 by Dr Tom Harty and Dr Chris Ballance who both hold world records in quantum breakthroughs. The team includes 60 global experts across physics, quantum architecture, engineering and software and expects to triple headcount over the next 18 months as the business scales internationally. Oxford Ionics has raised £37 million to date with investors including Braavos, OSE, Lansdowne Partners, Prosus Ventures, 2xN, and Hermann Hauser (founder of chip giant ARM). In 2024, Oxford Ionics rapidly commercialised its technology, selling full-stack quantum computers to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Germany’s Cyberagentur. The company also holds the world records in the three most important metrics for quantum performance: single- and two-qubit gate fidelity and quantum state preparation and measurement (SPAM). For more information, visit our website www.oxionics.com About Riverlane Riverlane’s mission is to make quantum computing useful, sooner. This will transform the future of computing and start an era of human progress as significant as the digital and industrial revolutions. Achieving this requires a 10,000x reduction in the system errors that quickly overwhelm all quantum computers, today. Riverlane is building Deltaflow, the quantum error correction (QEC) stack, to solve this problem across all qubit types. Having assembled the world’s leading experts in quantum error correction and chip design, Riverlane is now supplying over half of the world’s quantum computing companies. At Deltaflow’s core is the world’s most powerful quantum error decoder. Deltaflow is powered by a new class of patented QEC semiconductors designed and built by Riverlane.   About Bay Photonics Bay Photonics are an independent, flexible design and build facility offering reduced time to market, reduced technical risk and reduced product development cost solution for projects that the customer finds difficult to gain traction due to low volume, degree of technical difficulty, broad engineering know-how required and restricted access to assembly capability. With ultra-modern and well-equipped facilities, plus vastly experienced technical staff, Bay Photonics help make your Photonic IC (PIC) projects become a reality with their open and innovative packaging capability. Press Contacts GENERAL PRESS ENQUIRIES media@oxionics.com ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  • Oxford Ionics

    We are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable.

  • Oxford Ionics

    We are world-leading innovators, creating the unique technologies which will bring Quantum Computing from the theoretical to the indispensable.

  • Contact | Oxford Ionics

    We'd love to hear from you! Discover how to get in touch and where to find us. Schedule a meeting with us . Schedule a meeting with us to learn more about Oxford Ionics and our quantum computing platform. Fill out the form below to request a meeting, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Full name (first and last) Business email Company Your message What would you like to discuss with us? SEND MESSAGE For general enquiries, fill in the form above or email us directly on info@oxionics.com . For sales enquiries, please use the above form or contact sales@oxionics.com . For press enquiries, contact us on media@oxionics.com . For information on career opportunities, h ead over to the careers page or get in touch with us on careers@oxionics.com . UK Head Office Oxford Ionics Unit 6a, Oxford Technology Park Technology Dr Oxford OX5 1GN United Kingdom We prefer to communicate by email, but if you want to get in touch by phone, then you can reach us on +44(0) 1865 649842 US Office Oxford Ionics Colorado Building 1919 14th St #700 Boulder, CO 80302 USA - quantum computing - ion trap - ion trapping - ion trap quantum computing - oxford quantum Registered address: Oxford Ionics Ltd, Oxford Technology Park, Oxford, OX5 1GN, United Kingdom

  • Solving quantum computing's wiring dilemma: How to build a 1,000-qubit computer without tens of thousands of wires | Oxford Ionics

    Back to all blogs 14 August 2023 Solving quantum computing's wiring dilemma: How to build a 1,000-qubit computer without tens of thousands of wires Oxford Ionics Team 4 MINUTE READ PREVIOUS NEXT Today, small-scale quantum computers can (just about) get away with connecting qubits to one or more individual control lines. As soon as you look to scale the technology and ramp up the qubit count, however, the number of lines, and thus the number of wires and electrical interconnects to the chip needed to maintain pace quickly becomes unwieldy. To the point of impossibility. Scaling today's proof of concepts into powerful QCs with 1,000 qubits would require on the order of 10,000 control lines. Just connecting this many signals to a chip is beyond the bleeding edge of the microelectronics industry, and that's before we get into how we get all those signals to the chip in the first place. That it’s challenging for the commercial computing industry to solve – with its decades of legacy and trillions of dollars of R&D – highlights just how significant the scale of the problem is for the nascent quantum computing industry. It’s widely accepted that the solution to the wiring problem is integrating control components into the chips. However, it hasn’t been clear how to do this in a way that allows you to build these chips using existing fabrication technology, without taking up too much chip space, consuming too much power, needing too much bandwidth to control, or impacting the efficiency of the QC as it scales. Until now. Wiring is a scary problem - see the 50-qubit state of the art QC from Google on the left - but if you're WISE about it the number of control lines doesn't need to increase with the number of qubits. The OI system on the right has enough control lines for ~1,000 qubits. Today, we’re presenting a solution that solves the challenge of how to wire a quantum computer in a way that's consistent with all of these constraints. A solution that enables a 1,000-qubit QC to be run on just 200 control lines using chips and quantum systems – the infrastructure and controls around the chip – that are available today. We call this architecture WISE (Wiring using Integrated Switching Electronics) and, although we’re of course biased, we believe it marks a major step forward in the journey towards truly scalable quantum computers. Meet WISE WISE is a new wiring architecture for trapped ion QCs that solves for the power, bandwidth and footprint problems of integration and fabrication in one fell swoop. Illustration of possible electrical wiring of a 1000-qubit chip. The QPU (right) combines an ion trap IC with integrated capacitors and switches, and requires a footprint of 8mm × 22mm (excluding interconnects). The QPU is controlled using ∼ 200 electrical inputs, delivered from ∼ 200 off-chip sources via wire bonds. Ion traps typically use ~10 electrodes to control each ion qubit, each of which is driven by an independent DAC, which converts digital signals into the analogue voltages needed to control the ions. While DACs have been integrated into ion traps before, the amount of power, space and data they require makes incorporating many thousands into an ion trap infeasible. In our WISE approach, we instead manage this by integrating multiplexers into chips. This allows us to share the DACs between lots of ions, which is great because multiplexers are very small components, consisting of only a few transistors, and take up very little power. Until now, it has been an open challenge as to how to build a computer that runs efficiently when a small number of DACs are shared between many electrodes, and in a way that maintains this efficiency as it scales. In our scientific paper outlining this solution, we introduce a new idea called "dynamic electrode parallelism" which allows us to use a small number of DACs to control all the ion qubits in a scalable way using standard CMOS fabrication processes. This means we can still move the qubits around at will – and thus get full connectivity – but in a way that lets us use one DAC for hundreds of electrodes at the same time. It’s like replacing lots of cars with a bus or public transport; it helps ease congestion and uses fewer lanes, while all the people (or in this case, ions) still get where they need to go. If you’re interested to go deeper into how the technology works, read our paper, How to wire a 1000-qubit trapped ion quantum computer . Integration is our business Integrating control in a scalable way, as we've shown with WISE, was always a natural next step for us because integration and scalability are core to our mission at Oxford Ionics. Our electronic qubit control technology allows us to replace the lasers traditionally used to control trapped ions with electronics integrated directly into silicon chips. Our relationship with top-tier foundry Infineon allows us to build this technology out at scale on a CMOS-compatible production line. WISE fits naturally within this approach, replacing tens of thousands of wires with simple circuitry integrated into a silicon chip that can be produced at scale. The discussions around quantum computing focus a lot on qubits - ions, photons, superconducting circuits. Yes, qubits are the heart of a quantum computer, but they're also the cheap and easy part – a thousand atoms doesn’t cost a lot! The real magic comes from how we integrate the qubits into a system of wires and chips to make a computer. The choices we make here are what ultimately determine whether today's small-scale prototypes can truly and effectively scale into tomorrow's supercomputers. It’s this process of integration, and picking the combination of technologies that scales, which sits at the heart of our approach at Oxford Ionics.

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