University of Cambridge to host ‘UK’s most powerful’ quantum computer

The University of Cambridge has announced plans to host what it says will be the UK’s most powerful quantum computer, in a move aimed at accelerating research in quantum science, engineering and other fields.

The university has partnered with quantum technology firm IonQ to install the system, which it described as its largest corporate research partnership to date.

The IonQ 256-qubit quantum computer will be housed in the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre at the Ray Dolby Centre in Cambridge.

As part of the collaboration, Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency and part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – will provide access and computing time for UKRI’s National Quantum Computing Centre over three years.

According to the university, this support will enable researchers and early-stage companies from across the UK to make use of the enormous power of the first commercial-scale quantum computer at a UK university.

The new IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre will host a research portfolio spanning quantum computing, quantum networks, quantum sensing and quantum security. The partnership will also fund new academic positions, postdoctoral fellows and PhD students at the university.

Quantum computers achieve levels of performance which, the university said, are unobtainable with classical computers and are based on science that cannot be explained by classical physics.

It added that the shift from lab-scale quantum computers to truly application-focused systems could greatly accelerate the pace of discovery in a number of areas that could improve lives, including ultra-secure communication networks, high-performance computing, record-breaking quantum sensors and accelerated drug discovery.

The IonQ partnership will underpin long-term research funding for quantum science and technology at Cambridge, as well as the co-development of new quantum network nodes and sensing capabilities across the university, including a strengthening of the existing Cambridge–Bristol UK quantum network.

The university said the partnership will bring together researchers across multiple disciplines, industry partners, end users and policy experts from the outset. This joined-up approach is intended to ensure that scientific and technological advances are aligned with commercial and societal needs and are rapidly translated into real-world solutions.

“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.”