Cambridge secures biggest-ever corporate research partnership
The University of Cambridge has announced its largest-ever corporate research collaboration through a partnership with quantum technology company IonQ to host the UK’s most powerful quantum computer.
The partnership will establish the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre at the Ray Dolby Centre, the new home of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory.
The facility will house a state-of-the-art IonQ 256-qubit quantum computer, which will become the most powerful quantum computer in the UK once installed. The centre will support research across quantum computing, quantum networks, quantum sensing and quantum security, while also funding new academic positions, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students at Cambridge.
“Cambridge is already a critical player in the UK’s national quantum technology programme, and this partnership will supercharge that role,” said Professor Mete Atatüre, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory. “This is a true partnership, with long-term investment, shared research and co-development in all areas of quantum technology, bringing together physics, engineering, medicine, computer science, policy and more.”
As part of the collaboration, Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency and part of UK Research and Innovation – will provide access and computing time for the National Quantum Computing Centre over a three-year period. This will allow researchers and early-stage companies across the UK to access the first commercial-scale quantum computer hosted at a UK university.
Quantum computers harness quantum phenomena to achieve levels of performance unattainable with classical systems, and application-focused quantum systems are expected to accelerate discoveries in areas such as secure communications, advanced computing, sensing technologies and drug development.
“We’re proud that Cambridge is at the heart of the UK’s next computing revolution,” said Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. “This new and ambitious partnership is the first of its kind for a UK university. It’s not just a new facility for Cambridge — it’s one for the whole of the UK, and it will develop not only exciting new technologies but also the UK’s next generation of leaders in quantum science.”
“This historic agreement with Cambridge deepens IonQ’s commitment to the United Kingdom and accelerates our technology platform with novel research at one of the world’s most storied physics powerhouses,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ.
“By establishing the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, we are strengthening the bridge between academic discovery and commercial quantum advantage. We believe this partnership will contribute meaningfully to the UK to help advance scalable quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security.”