Earlier this year, leading quantum company IonQ and the University of Cambridge announced a 10-year strategic partnership aiming to accelerate research and technology development across the areas of quantum computing, networking, sensing and security. Housed within the Ray Dolby Centre (where the University’s Cavendish Laboratory is also based), the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre will be the site of the company’s state-of-the-art 256-qubit quantum computer, the most powerful machine of its kind in the UK once it is installed in summer 2027. The company will also aim to deploy a distributed entanglement quantum network across the University campus, while also financially supporting new research positions and training placements to promote skills development in the sector.

Yesterday marked the formal opening of the Centre, a huge milestone highlighting the UK’s ability to attract substantial investment in quantum innovation from across the globe. The announcement included details on nine collaborative projects, led by University of Cambridge researchers working closely with IonQ quantum technologists to address technological challenges around trapped-ion quantum computing, quantum networking, and device engineering.  

Professor Mete Atatüre, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory, said:

“The official launch of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre is an exciting milestone in our partnership with IonQ, which will help Cambridge and the UK stay at the forefront of the quantum revolution. The announcement of the first round of the funded research projects celebrates the depth and breadth of expertise and talent at Cambridge, and will accelerate our impact in quantum science and engineering.”

Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ, added:

“The opening of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre turns a landmark agreement into a working home for quantum research inside one of the world’s most storied physics laboratories. By bringing quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security research together at Cambridge, we are accelerating the timeline between academic discovery and commercial quantum advantage. This is a long-term commitment to the United Kingdom, built for researchers, start-ups, and industry alike.”

To find out more about the opening of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre, you can read the official IonQ and University of Cambridge press releases.