A groundbreaking quantum computer, described as the world’s most advanced, has officially been switched on in the UK.
The full-stack system, named Quartet, was delivered to the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire by Oxford Ionics, a pioneer in trapped-ion quantum technology.
Dr. Chris Ballance, CEO and co-founder of Oxford Ionics, highlighted the machine’s revolutionary capabilities:
“Problems we once thought unsolvable could now be tackled in minutes,” he said.
The milestone follows IonQ’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics in June, strengthening the UK’s role in global quantum research.
A Leap Beyond Conventional Computing
Unlike traditional supercomputers, which consume massive energy, Quartet offers extraordinary efficiency. According to Dr. Ballance:
- A conventional supercomputer might require the output of a small power plant.
- Quartet uses less power than an electric kettle.
He added that future generations of their system are expected to outperform the most powerful supercomputers ever built, while consuming less power than a single data centre server rack.
See also: First 2D Material Computer Developed at Penn State
Unlocking Real-World Solutions
Quantum computing promises to transform industries from clean energy to pharmaceuticals. For example, Dr. Ballance explained how designing better batteries currently relies on lab experiments. With Quartet, such challenges could be solved computationally, cutting years of trial and error.
“This is a huge step forward in making quantum computing commercially valuable,” Oxford Ionics noted in a statement, calling it a milestone toward solving some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
Partnership with IonQ
The acquisition by IonQ was driven by strong synergy. Dr. Ballance praised the move:
“IonQ has been operating quantum computers on major cloud platforms for years. By combining their scale with our technology, we can accelerate progress by several years.”
With Quartet now online, the UK is firmly positioned at the forefront of the quantum revolution.
