Quantinuum, formed by the merger of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum, is a quantum computing company pursuing the first universal fault-tolerant quantum computer. The company describes its hardware as the most accurate commercial general-purpose quantum computer, with industry-leading gate fidelities.

In September 2025, Quantinuum raised $600 million at a $10 billion pre-money valuation, led by Quanta Computer, NVentures (NVIDIA's venture arm), and QED Investors, with participation from JPMorganChase, Mitsui, Amgen, Cambridge Quantum Holdings, Serendipity Capital, and Honeywell. A previous round in January 2024 raised $300 million at a $5B valuation. On 26 May 2026, the company filed its S-1 with the SEC. Quantinuum listed on Nasdaq under the ticker QNT on 4 June 2026, raising approximately $1.05 billion through approximately 21 million Class A shares — the largest pure-play quantum-computing IPO to date, at a valuation of up to $12.7 billion. The stock opened at $60.38 on its first day of trading. In May 2026, Quantinuum also disclosed a strategic collaboration with Synopsys to integrate quantum computing into EDA workflows for simulation and design optimization.

In November 2025, Quantinuum launched Helios with 98 barium ion qubits, upgraded from 56 ytterbium qubits, reaching roughly 99.92% two-qubit gate fidelity. Helios supports up to 48 fully error-corrected logical qubits at a 2:1 encoding rate. The switch from ytterbium to barium ions allows visible-light laser manipulation, improving cost, component lifetime, and scalability. The system integrates an NVIDIA GB200 for real-time error decoding with on-the-fly error correction. Helios reached a Quantum Volume of 33.5 million, the highest ever recorded and 16,000 times better than the nearest competitor, and demonstrated 94 logical qubits in error-detected mode alongside the 48 in fully error-corrected mode. In late 2025, Quantinuum created the largest-ever GHZ state with 50 entangled logical 

Quantinuum

ORCA Computing is a UK-based photonic quantum computing company building room-temperature quantum memory systems and quantum computers. It uses time-bin encoded photons stored in quantum memory loops, an approach that enables quantum-optical computing at room temperature using telecoms-compatible photons. Founded in 2019 as a spinout of Oxford University, ORCA is based in London and partners with BT, the UK MoD, and DSTL for quantum networking and sensing applications. Its PT-1 system integrates quantum memory modules that operate without cryogenics, targeting near-term quantum advantage in machine learning and chemistry simulation.

ORCA has raised more than $52M, including a $37M Series B in November 2025 with investors Temasek, Baillie Gifford, NVentures, QIA, and Morgan Stanley. PT Series systems are operational at PSNC Poland and the UK National Quantum Computing Centre for hybrid machine learning and generative AI workloads, and ORCA installed the UK's first photonic quantum system at the NQCC. The company has also deployed PT Series systems at a US Air Force-funded facility in Montana.

In 2025, ORCA launched the PT-2 photonic quantum system for industrial-scale AI, integrating with NVIDIA CUDA-Q and building on seven deployed PT-1 systems. In October 2025 it joined NVIDIA's NVQLink open reference architecture for tight quantum-classical integration. ORCA acquired the generative AI startup Rahko and has expanded its applications portfolio beyond pure photonic quantum computing.

Partnerships include ST Engineering, for quantum machine learning-based cyber anomaly detection announced in December 2025, and Vodafone, for quantum optimisation of broadband networks. In June 2025, ORCA used its PT-2 system to solve Steiner Tree network planning problems for Vodafone in minutes. In January 2026, Toyota and ORCA demonstrated a reduction of more than 80% in compute time for AI workloads using photonic quantum reservoir computing. Update 2026-06-16: ORCA Computing deployed a photonic quantum computer to an enterprise customer in Japan through a collaboration with Toyota Tsusho. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orca-toyota-tsusho-first-quantum/ Update 2026-06-14: ORCA Computing is expanding its commercial reach by establishing a new Digital Realty Innovation Lab in London. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orca-computing-commercial-presence-via/ Update 2026-05-26: ORCA Computing's PT Series photonic quantum systems are now featured at the Digital Realty Innovation Lab in London for AI integration testing. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orcas-series-quantum-systems-join/ Update 2026-04-30: Orca Computing is evaluating quantum processing units for integration into data centers using existing standards. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orca-computing-targets-data-center/ Update 2026-01-14: ORCA Computing demonstrated an 80% reduction in AI compute time using quantum reservoir computing for Toyota. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/toyota-quantum-computing-compute-reduction/ Update 2025-10-28: ORCA Computing integrated with NVIDIA's NVLink to enable faster data transfer between quantum processors and classical GPUs. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orca-photonics-nvqlink-architecture-integration/ Update 2025-07-04: ORCA Computing appointed a chairman to guide its quantum scale-up efforts. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orca-computing-appoints-chairman-to-drive-quantum-scale-up/ Update 2025-06-12: ORCA Computing deployed the UK's first photonic quantum computer at the National Quantum Computing Centre. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/uks-national-quantum-computing-centre-receives-first-photonic-quantum-system-from-orca-computing/

ORCA Computing

Oxford Ionics was a UK-based quantum computing company that built trapped-ion technology on standard semiconductor chips using its Electronic Qubit Control (EQC) technology, achieving world-record gate fidelities. Founded in 2019 out of Oxford University, it was acquired by IonQ for $1.075 billion in September 2025, one of the largest quantum computing acquisitions to date.

The company now operates as an IonQ subsidiary in Oxford, UK, and is expanding its workforce to accelerate chip-scale trapped-ion development. Its 32-qubit technology is being integrated into IonQ's broader quantum computing platform.

Before the acquisition, DARPA selected Oxford Ionics for the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (April 2025), the company joined the UK Quantum Missions Pilot (March 2025), installed a quantum computer at the UK NQCC (August 2025), and partnered with Iceberg Quantum on fault-tolerant computing (July 2025). The IonQ acquisition closed on September 17, 2025.

Oxford Ionics

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) is a UK quantum computing company, based in Oxford, that builds superconducting processors using its Coaxmon and Dimon dual-rail qubit architectures. Its GENESIS system uses the dual-rail Dimon qubit architecture to reduce error-correction overhead and has achieved two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.8% at a 25 ns gate speed. OQC's systems are accessible via AWS Braket and its own cloud platform, which is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022.

OQC runs Quantum-AI data centers in NYC, London, and Tokyo that all deploy GENESIS processors alongside NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper GPUs, with Oxford Instruments NanoScience supplying cryogenic infrastructure. The NYC data center, at Digital Realty JFK10, became operational in September 2025. OQC joined the NVIDIA NVQLink program, connecting its quantum hardware to NVIDIA GPUs for real-time hybrid workflows, and it co-founded the Quantum Datacenter Alliance with Cisco, NTT DATA, Nu Quantum, QphoX, Quantinuum, and QuEra. OQC also collaborates with QinetiQ on military communications analysis.

In June 2025, OQC published a roadmap targeting 200 logical qubits by 2028 and 50,000 logical qubits by 2034, at a 10:1 physical-to-logical ratio. In February 2026, OQC unveiled a 500+ qubit wafer-scale packaging architecture and published a preprint demonstrating wafer-scale packaging with more than 500 superconducting qubits on a 3-inch die, with a median T1 of 97 microseconds. Update 2025-10-04: Oxford Quantum Circuits became the first quantum computing company to achieve ISO 27001 certification for information security. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/oxford-quantum-circuits-oqc-achieves-ceritification-milestone/ Update 2025-09-16: Oxford Quantum Circuits and Digital Realty are launching New York's first quantum-AI data center with NVIDIA. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/oqc-and-digital-realty-launch-new-yorks-first-quantum-ai-data-centre/

Oxford Quantum Circuits

Quantum Motion is a UK quantum computing company founded in 2017 out of Oxford and UCL, based in London. In September 2025 it delivered the UK's first full-stack silicon CMOS quantum computer to the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). The system is built on a 300mm wafer using standard CMOS fabrication, with a 1,024 quantum dot array validated in under 5 minutes, 100 times faster than previous validation. Its systems are compatible with Qiskit and Cirq.

In May 2026 the company raised a $160M Series C co-led by DCVC and Kembara, taking total funding past $200M, and it manufactures with GlobalFoundries. It also partners with ORCA Computing and Riverlane on the QUICHE project. Goldman Sachs partnered with Quantum Motion on options pricing quantum algorithms, establishing the company in quantum finance applications.

Quantum Motion demonstrated the world's fastest dispersive readout of a silicon spin qubit, with state determination of about 8 µs using RF electron cascade, published in Nature Electronics. It also integrated a 384-qubit silicon quantum dot chip that combines quantum devices with cryogenic CMOS control electronics. In February 2026 the company opened a European subsidiary in San Sebastián, Spain, deepening its engagement with the Basque quantum ecosystem.

Quantum Motion

Universal Quantum develops trapped ion quantum computers using a quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) architecture. The company was founded by Winfried Hensinger from the University of Sussex.

Universal Quantum holds a 67 million euro contract from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the largest EU government investment for quantum technology research. Under it, the company is building two world-firsts in Germany: a single-chip quantum computer with an electronic chip, and a multi-chip system with up to 100 qubits. It is recognized as the second government-backed scalable quantum mission after the UK's investment.

The company developed the first commercial ASIC chip for trapped-ion iQPUs, which enables UQConnect, for qubit transfer between chip modules at a world-record rate, and UQLogic, for microwave qubit control. A partnership with TUHH, the Hamburg University of Technology, targets scaling toward 100,000 physical qubits. Universal Quantum's other partnerships include Rolls-Royce, on fuel-efficient aviation turbines, and the German Aerospace Center.

In November 2025, CEO Sebastian Weidt testified before UK Parliament on quantum computing policy. In December 2025, a UK-Germany collaboration was announced, including a 6 million pound joint quantum R&D call for 2026 and 8 million pounds for Fraunhofer UK photonics. Also in December 2025, Universal Quantum signed an MOU with Atlas Copco Group to co-develop Acute High Vacuum (AHV) solutions for its modular silicon trapped-ion chip systems, supporting scaling toward thousands-of-qubit architectures with a UK and European supply chain. Update 2026-05-06: Universal Quantum appointed Freeke Heijman as Senior European Advisor to strengthen its presence in the European quantum ecosystem. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/universal-quantum-advisor-strengthens-europe/ Update 2026-05-06: AQT introduced the LYNX Series, a new generation of rack-mounted quantum computers, achieving a record-breaking Quantum Volume. Source:

Universal Quantum

Arqit Quantum Inc (NASDAQ: ARQQ) develops symmetric key agreement (SKA) technology for quantum-safe encryption, with a focus on the telecom, government, and defense sectors. The company held cash of $36.9M as of September 2025. Its FY 2025 revenue was roughly $535k, it executed contracts generating about $1.2M in FY 2026, and it engaged 6 telecom operators and 17 commercial enterprises in the first half of 2025.

During 2025, Arqit won its first DoD contract, partnered with Intel for CSfC-compliant mobile communications, and signed a three-year agreement with a Tier 1 network operator covering 32 countries. In September 2025, Fabric Networks took a commercial license and the NCSC selected Arqit for UK PQC migrations. Arqit also joined Vodafone's Tomorrow Street Scaleup X programme, launched the SKA Edge Controller (SKA-EC) for military defense, and unveiled quantum-safe protection with Intel TDX confidential computing. In 2025, it raised $13.6M in a registered direct offering of 5.44M shares at $2.50 and was named an IDC Innovator in Post-Quantum Cryptography.

In November 2025, Arqit launched the SKA Central Controller (SKA-CC) platform, which lets Managed Service Providers deploy quantum-safe network security across OSI Layers 1 to 7 (OTNsec, MACsec, IPsec, TLS), targeting telcos, defense, 5G, and IoT/OT. It also partnered with RAD to integrate SKA with RAD's ETX Carrier Edge platform for quantum-safe telecom encryption. On January 22, 2026, Arqit fully launched its Encryption Intelligence (EI) product, which provides automated cryptographic discovery for post-quantum migration and compliance, including real-time encryption risk exposure, migration planning, and continuous monitoring. EI is available as SaaS or through certified system integrator partners. Update 2026-01-25: Arqit will launch Encryption Intelligence on January 22, 2026, to help organizations inventory and remediate cryptographic vulnerabilities. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/arqit-quantum-e

Arqit

Nu Quantum is a UK quantum networking company founded in 2018 out of Cambridge University and based in Cambridge. It builds datacenter-compatible quantum networking infrastructure. Its core product is the Entanglement Fabric, a modular photonic layer that interconnects quantum processors for distributed quantum computing.

Its Quantum Networking Unit (QNU) delivers 99.7% entanglement fidelity with 300ns control latency, enabling quantum links between QPUs in data centers. In February 2026, Nu Quantum opened Europe's first industrial trapped-ion quantum networking laboratory in Cambridge, targeting large-scale quantum repeater and network hardware. It co-founded the Quantum Datacenter Alliance with Cisco, NTT DATA, OQC, QphoX, Quantinuum, and QuEra.

In December 2025, Nu Quantum raised $60M, the largest UK early-stage quantum round ever. It also closed a $75M Series C led by Planet First Partners, with Cambridge Innovation Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, and the UK National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF). Update 2026-06-11: Nu Quantum's research demonstrated that multi-QPU systems can tolerate complete QPU failure by encoding information across a network. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/catastrophic-failure-research-multi-qpu-systems/ Update 2026-02-11: Nu Quantum opened the UK’s first industrial trapped-ion networking laboratory to accelerate progress towards distributed quantum computing. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/nu-quantum-trapped-ions-quantum-networking/ Update 2025-06-12: Nu Quantum launched a rackmounted Quantum Networking Unit designed for distributing entanglement between quantum processors in datacentres. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/nu-quantum-launches-first-datacentre-compatible-quantum-networking-unit-for-scalable-computing/

Nu Quantum

Aquark Technologies is a UK National Quantum Technologies Programme spinout focused on high-precision measurement and quantum sensing. The company develops portable quantum sensors for navigation, timing, and gravimetry applications across the defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors, and it has demonstrated quantum sensing at sea in partnership with the Royal Navy.

In September 2024, Aquark raised a €5M seed round led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with MBDA, EIFO, and UKI2S. That same year it trialled its AQuest cold-atom sensor on HMS Pursuer, achieving the first continuous trapping of cold atoms on a Royal Navy vessel. In April 2025, Aquark became the first company to trap cold atoms underwater, demonstrated aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough (Boaty McBoatface) as part of NERC oceanographic research. In September 2025, a £1.9M Innovate UK Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to Dr Florence Concepcion funded a four-year miniaturisation programme. Investors include Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, and MBDA alongside the NATO Innovation Fund. Update 2026-05-21: Aquark Technologies established a European entity in Denmark and became the first UK company to register at the Niels Bohr Institute. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/aquark-technologies-niels-bohr-becomes/

Aquark Technologies

PQShield is a post-quantum cryptography company spun out of Oxford University. It develops cryptographic algorithms, hardware implementations, and security solutions designed to protect systems against attacks from both classical and quantum computers, covering the work from theory through to deployment. The company serves semiconductor manufacturers, automotive companies, government agencies, and enterprises, offering both cryptographic IP and security consulting.

PQShield raised a $37M Series B in June 2024 led by Addition, with backing from Chevron Technology Ventures, Legal & General, and Oxford Science Enterprises, following earlier major rounds in 2023 and 2024. The company unveiled the first PQC-compliant silicon test chip for post-quantum security and completed an external evaluation of ML-KEM for CRYPTREC, Japan's national cryptography standardization body.

Clients include AMD, Microchip Technologies, Collins Aerospace, and Lattice Semiconductor. In 2025, PQShield partnered with Carahsoft Technology to distribute NIST-compliant PQC solutions to the US public sector. The same year it was selected as a vetted provider in the UK NCSC PQC Pilot program for 2025 to 2027, certifying it to advise government on PQC migration alongside IBM and Capgemini. Update 2026-04-01: PQShield completed an evaluation of the ML-KEM standard for Japan's cryptographic standardization body, CRYPTREC. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/pqshield-ml-kem-inclusion-clears-path/

PQShield

Riverlane is a UK quantum error correction company building Deltaflow, a real-time quantum error correction system that serves as a hardware-agnostic QEC layer. Based in Cambridge, UK, the company has raised more than $120M and partners with over 60% of quantum computing companies worldwide. In 2025 it opened a European hub in Delft, led by Professor Barbara Terhal.

Deltaflow 2 is deployed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, while Deltaflow 3, which adds streaming logic, and Deltaflow Mega, for fully error-corrected applications, are planned for 2026. The company targets a MegaQuOp-scale QEC stack prototype by the end of 2026. In April 2026, Riverlane demonstrated quantum error correction latency improvements 10 times faster than Google.

In September 2025, Riverlane installed Deltaflow 2 OS at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, connected to the Frontier supercomputer, the first dedicated real-time QEC system at a US national lab and the first quantum error correction system integrated with a world-class HPC supercomputer. In July 2025, Riverlane achieved the UK's first commercial QEC deployment at the CentreSquare data centre, co-located with OQC hardware as part of the UK DECIDE project, alongside partners Qblox, Infleqtion, and Rigetti.

In 2025, Riverlane raised a $75M Series C led by Planet First Partners, with Cambridge Innovation Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, the UK National Security Strategic Investment Fund, and Altair. Update 2026-04-16: Riverlane unveiled a hardware decoder for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/riverlane-unveils-hardware-decoder-for-fault-tolerant-quantum-computing-in-quest-for-megaquop/ Update 2026-03-12: Riverlane published a roadmap detailing how its quantum error correction technology can potentially accelerate the development of utility-scale quantum computing by three to five years. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/riverlane-quantum-computing-roadmap/ Update 2025-12-11: Riverlane established 

Riverlane

Nanoco Technologies Ltd is a UK-based nanotechnology company that spun out from the University of Manchester in 2001. It specializes in the development and large-scale production of cadmium-free quantum dots and other electronic-grade nanomaterials, and it is unique in the nanomaterials market as a manufacturer of high-grade quantum dots at commercial volumes. Co-founder Dr. Nigel Pickett invented Nanoco's key quantum dot scale-up technology. Since 2004, the company has focused its research on cadmium-free quantum dots, addressing environmental and health concerns while maintaining performance for LCD displays, LED lighting, sensors, solar cells, and bio-imaging.

In October 2024, Dmitry Shashkov joined as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Nigel Pickett, co-founder and CTO, announced his retirement from the board in 2024 but remains with the company until February 2026. Publicly traded and based in Manchester, Nanoco represents British innovation in the commercialization of quantum materials.

Nanoco Technologies

The National Quantum Commercialisation Skills Centre is a GBP 12 million UKRI-funded programme established as part of the UK Government's GBP 2B 'Quantum Leap' programme announced on March 17, 2026. It works to bridge the gap between laboratory quantum research and commercial applications, training both current quantum sector professionals and the next generation of quantum talent.

The Centre addresses the workforce gap identified in the UK National Quantum Strategy, where commercialization is held back by a shortage of professionals who can turn fundamental quantum research into viable products and services. It works across the full quantum ecosystem, including hardware, software, sensing, and communications, to build commercialization skills in areas such as quantum business development, IP management, technology transfer, and quantum product management. Announced as part of UKRI's wider quantum investment package, its funding is available from April 2026 through the UKRI funding finder.

National Quantum Commercialisation Skills Centre

Oriole Networks is a UCL spinout developing photonic networking technology for AI data centers. It uses light to connect networks of AI chips, cutting energy consumption by 40x and improving speed by 100x compared with traditional electrical interconnects.

The company's photonic switching and optical interconnects address the data center bottleneck for AI workloads, allowing AI compute resources to be parallelized at scale while sharply reducing power consumption.

In October 2024, Oriole raised a $22 million Series A led by Plural, bringing total funding to $35 million. In May 2025, Oriole launched PRISM, a fully photonic network fabric for AI data centers, followed by PRISM Ultra in March 2026, and it partnered with Tower Semiconductor on a silicon photonics platform.

Oriole Networks

Phasecraft is a quantum software company developing quantum algorithms that run on today's noisy intermediate-scale quantum, or NISQ, devices. Its approach is hardware-agnostic, rewriting quantum algorithms to run efficiently on NISQ machines from Google, IBM, Quantinuum, and QuEra. The company's algorithms are more efficient by factors of millions for material discovery and energy optimization.

On September 2, 2025, Phasecraft announced a $34 million Series B funding round, co-led by Plural, Playground Global, and Novo Holdings' newly launched Quantum Fund, which made its first direct investment in quantum software. Existing investors LocalGlobe, AlbionVC, and Parkwalk Advisors also participated, bringing total capital raised above $50 million. The funding supports an expanding US presence and industrial collaborations with Johnson Matthey, Oxford PV, the UK's NESO, and BT.

Phasecraft developed the THRIFT algorithm, published in Nature Communications in 2025, which improves quantum simulation efficiency by 10 times and reduces computational costs by prioritizing interactions based on their speed. Its approach cuts the quantum gates needed to run simulations by factors of more than a million in some cases. Lithium copper oxide, for example, can be simulated with 410,000 quantum gates compared with a previous baseline of 1.5 trillion.

Phasecraft was named a DARPA QBI collaborator and an XPRIZE Quantum Applications finalist competing for a $5M prize. The company launched Mondrian, a quantum optimization platform. Update 2026-03-03: Phasecraft is contributing to DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative with the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory to estimate resources for utility-scale quantum computing by 2033. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/phasecraft-quantum-resource-estimate/ Update 2025-12-10: Phasecraft's quantum algorithms won a $5M XPRIZE for advancing materials property computation. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/phasecraft-quant

Phasecraft

QLM Technology is a UK quantum sensing company founded in 2020 in Cardiff/Bristol that develops quantum gas lidar systems for methane leak detection in the oil and gas industry. Its quantum-enhanced LiDAR uses laser spectroscopy to detect methane at parts-per-billion sensitivity from a distance, enabling rapid field-level leak surveys that classical IR cameras cannot perform. In 2025, QLM raised a £12M Series A led by Schlumberger (SLB) and in April 2025 formed a strategic partnership with Project Canary for emissions monitoring. Based in Bristol, UK.

QLM Technology

QuantrolOx is an Oxford University spin-out, founded in 2020 in Oxford, UK, that builds AI and machine learning automation software for quantum computer control systems. Its flagship product, Quantum Edge, uses Bayesian optimization to automate the tuning, stabilization, and optimization of qubits across all major quantum hardware platforms. It reduces resonator and qubit spectroscopy from hours to seconds and lets one expert manage multiple quantum computers, rather than the 3-4 experts otherwise needed for 10 qubits.

The company raised £1.4 million in seed funding in 2022 from Hoxton Ventures and Nielsen Ventures, along with €10.5M from the European Innovation Council the same year. Its partners include QuantWare, with a 17-qubit error correction dev kit integration, Zurich Instruments, with QCCS integration, and Qblox, with Quantum Edge automation.

QuantrolOx

Quantum Dice is a UK quantum hardware company founded in 2019 that develops quantum random number generators (QRNG) using its proprietary DISC, or source-device independent self-certification, protocol. Spun out of Oxford University, the company provides quantum-grade randomness for cryptography, secure communications, and regulated enterprise applications. Its VERTEX QD-1100 achieves 2.66 Gbps quantum random number generation.

In October 2024, Quantum Dice partnered with SCI Semiconductor to combine QRNG with CHERI memory-safe chip technology for aerospace and defense, automotive, and medical applications. It also collaborates with the STFC Hartree Centre to integrate QRNG with HPC and AI workflows. In February 2025, Quantum Dice and Thales launched a QRNG-backed Hardware Security Module via Quantum Entropy-as-a-Service, integrating DISC with the Thales Luna HSM for real-time auditability of encryption key integrity and post-quantum migration support. In October 2025, Quantum Dice was awarded a EUR 2M EIC Accelerator grant.

Quantum Dice produced the Zenith QRNG, its first space product, for SpeQtral's SpeQtral-1 satellite mission. On November 28, 2025, the SpeQtre satellite, carrying Quantum Dice QRNG technology in partnership with SpeQtral, launched on SpaceX Transporter-15, validating space-grade quantum random number generation. Update 2026-04-30: Quantum Dice launched a Use Case Challenge offering a £5,000 first prize for solutions applying probabilistic computing. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/quantum-dice-use-case-challenge-innovators/

Quantum Dice

The Quantum Software Lab is a £20 million UKRI-funded research centre at the University of Edinburgh, established as part of the UK Government's £2B 'Quantum Leap' programme announced on March 17, 2026.

The lab takes a full-stack quantum computing approach spanning hardware and software development, positioning the University of Edinburgh as the UK's national centre for quantum software research. It brings together researchers in quantum algorithms, quantum error correction, quantum programming languages, and quantum machine learning, working closely with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) at Harwell and industry partners to translate quantum software research into practical applications. The lab contributes to building the quantum software ecosystem needed to exploit fault-tolerant quantum computers expected in the early 2030s.

The lab was announced on March 17, 2026 as part of UKRI's £65M quantum investment package, alongside the NQCC expansion and additional funding for the National Quantum Technology Hubs. It is one of three major new UK quantum computing investments in the 'Quantum Leap' announcement, with funding available from April 2026. Update 2026-02-25: The Quantum Software Lab is hosting the NQCC Quantum Fringe 2026 Festival of Quantum. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/quantum-software-lab-computing-fringe-event/

Quantum Software Lab

Aegiq is a UK-based full-stack photonic quantum computing company spun out from the University of Sheffield in 2019. It develops secure quantum communications using III-V semiconductor-based quantum photonics chips, manufactured with elements such as gallium, indium, and arsenic rather than traditional silicon. Its work builds on more than 20 years of research in semiconductors and quantum science.

The company secured 1.4 million pounds in funding from Innovate UK and won a 30 million pound quantum testbed competition funded by the National Quantum Computing Centre to deliver Artemis, its compact photonic quantum computer. Aegiq develops quantum technology for fiber-optic and satellite-based applications, with a dedicated user interface for integration into the NQCC testbed ecosystem.

In September 2025, Aegiq commissioned its Artemis photonic quantum computer at the UK NQCC Harwell campus, the first company-owned, on-premises system deployed at a national quantum facility. Artemis uses compound-semiconductor single-photon emitters with silicon-nitride photonic circuits and operates at room temperature. Update 2026-05-20: Aegiq opened its Sheffield headquarters to serve as a center for photonic quantum computing. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/aegiq-plans-multi-million-pound/ Update 2025-10-03: Aegiq activated its first photonic quantum computer at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/aegiq-commissions-photonic-quantum-computer-at-the-uks-nqcc/

Aegiq

Amadeus Capital Partners is a deep tech venture capital firm based in London and Cambridge, founded in 1997 by Hermann Hauser and Anne Glover. It has raised $1.3 billion since inception and invested in over 200 companies, and it is recognized as one of the most significant long-term quantum technology investors in the UK. The firm invests across three areas: Intelligence (AI, advanced computing, quantum), Human (health, medicine, wellness), and Planet (sustainability, energy, materials, space).

Amadeus holds positions in several UK quantum companies, including Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), Quantum Motion Technologies, and Riverlane. Its Riverlane investments run from the initial £3.25M seed round in June 2019 through the $20M Series A, the £15M Series B (co-led with Molten Ventures), and the $75M Series C in August 2024. Nu Quantum received early backing from Amadeus as a Cambridge spin-out. Through the Amadeus-Apex Technology Fund (€80M target, 2023), Amadeus co-invests with Austria's Apex Ventures in early-stage European deep tech, including quantum.

Amadeus Capital Partners

AstraZeneca PLC is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company founded in 1999. It applies quantum computing to molecular simulations, drug-target binding calculations, and pharmaceutical R&D optimization.

In June 2023, AstraZeneca partnered with SandboxAQ, an Alphabet spinoff, to use quantum-inspired AI drug discovery and development tools that reduce the time and cost of bringing treatments to the clinic. AstraZeneca uses SandboxAQ's AQ-FEP software, which combines the accuracy of quantum mechanical equations with the speed and power of AI on classical computing hardware, for treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other conditions. In June 2025, AstraZeneca joined a collaborative research program with IonQ, AWS, and NVIDIA to develop a quantum-accelerated computational chemistry workflow that delivered a 20x speedup in time-to-solution compared to prior benchmarks.

AstraZeneca serves the global pharmaceutical market with quantum-enhanced drug discovery, computational chemistry, and AI-accelerated pharmaceutical development.

AstraZeneca

Atlantic Microwave is a British manufacturer and supplier of radio frequency (RF) and microwave components and equipment, founded in 1989 and located in Braintree, Essex. It was acquired by ETL Systems Ltd in January 2019.

The company works with key players in the cryogenic industry, providing RF and microwave components that operate down to cryogenic temperatures of 4K and below for quantum computing applications. Atlantic Microwave manufactures cryogenic low-noise amplifiers that improve the readout of quantum bits, operating in ultra-low temperature environments to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in quantum read-out circuits. Through Atlantic Microwave, ETL Systems offers high-grade components for quantum technology research, including low phase noise oscillators, multipliers, couplers, and cables designed to withstand the demanding conditions of cryostats.

Atlantic Microwave serves quantum computing manufacturers, research institutions, and cryogenic equipment providers that need RF components capable of operating at temperatures as low as 4K for quantum processor readout and control systems.

Atlantic Microwave

BAE Systems runs quantum technology research and development programs focused on defense and security applications. Its work covers quantum-enhanced radar and sensing systems, secure quantum communications networks, and quantum computing applications for intelligence analysis and cybersecurity.

On September 12, 2025, BAE Systems' FAST Labs and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory signed a three-year agreement to advance quantum sensing and networking technologies, focusing on combining multiple quantum RF sensors into arrays for new warfighter capabilities.

The company invests in quantum sensing for improved navigation systems that operate in GPS-denied environments, quantum-enhanced imaging and detection for surveillance, and quantum cryptography for secure military communications. BAE Systems collaborates with UK government quantum initiatives, academic research institutions, and quantum technology companies including AFRL to advance quantum capabilities for national security, including quantum-resistant cryptography to protect against future quantum computing threats and quantum-enhanced electronic warfare systems.

BAE Systems Quantum

BAE Systems Quantum Technology Division conducted UK MoD collaboration with Infleqtion and QinetiQ on quantum navigation trials at Boscombe Down for GPS-denied navigation for defense. The British defense contractor develops military quantum technologies. BAE Systems is integrating quantum sensors into defense platforms to provide navigation, timing, and sensing capabilities resilient to GPS jamming and electronic warfare.

BAE Systems Quantum Technology Division

BT Group plc, formerly British Telecom, is a British multinational telecommunications company founded in 1846 and headquartered in London. Together with Toshiba and EY, BT launched the world's first commercial quantum-secured metro network across London in April 2022, connecting Docklands, the City, and the M4 Corridor, with the first paying customer onboarded shortly after.

The technical work was carried out at BT's Adastral Park R&D campus in Suffolk with Toshiba's Cambridge Research Laboratory, building on a 2018-19 QKD trial between Cambridge and Adastral Park that was the UK's longest QKD link at the time. BT has continued to expand its quantum-safe service offerings, contributes to the UK Quantum Communications Hub, and is a vocal industry voice on national PQC migration policy and quantum-network buildout.

BT Group

Barclays PLC is a British multinational universal bank founded in 1690 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It explores quantum computing for financial services, including portfolio optimization, derivatives pricing, risk analysis, and trading optimization.

Barclays collaborates with quantum computing providers to develop quantum algorithms for banking applications and quantum-safe security for financial transactions. It investigates post-quantum cryptography to protect financial data and banking infrastructure against quantum computing threats. Serving global banking markets, the company advances quantum technology adoption in the banking industry and prepares for quantum-safe security transitions that protect banking operations and customer data.

Barclays

Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) is a Cambridge-based venture capital firm founded in 2013 that invests in deeptech and life sciences spinouts from the University of Cambridge and the broader Cambridge cluster. Backed by the University of Cambridge, CIC manages over £100 million in its 2025 Opportunity Fund, aimed at later-stage deep tech and life sciences companies. It has attracted over £1 billion of total investment into Cambridge companies and serves as a key institutional bridge between University of Cambridge research and commercial quantum computing development.

CIC has been a cornerstone investor in Riverlane from its initial £3.25M seed round in June 2019 through the £15M Series B and the $75M Series C in August 2024, which was led by Planet First Partners. It also invested in Nu Quantum in a pre-seed round alongside Amadeus Capital Partners. In 2025, Aviva Investors anchored CIC's new Opportunity Fund with a £15 million commitment, with investments going to Pragmatic and Riverlane.

Cambridge Innovation Capital

Cavero Quantum is a Leeds-based cybersecurity startup, founded in 2024, that develops a quantum-powered cloud communications platform with a scalable web service API and security based on software-based cryptographic keys. The company has raised $2.2M from investors including Foresight Group, Northern Gritstone, and Deeptech Labs.

Cavero's key technologies are Symmetrikey and Authentikey. Symmetrikey is a quantum-safe key exchange protocol that combines Learning With Errors problem variants with correlation filtering inspired by QKD; it runs twice as fast as ML-KEM and has been deployed on SIM cards. Authentikey is a two-way endpoint verification technology that provides passwordless authentication. The company took part in Mobile Future Forward 2025 in Seattle, where it addressed IoT, agentic AI, and regulatory challenges through quantum-safe security.

Cavero Quantum

Colt Technology Services is a London-headquartered global digital infrastructure operator founded in 1992, running fibre and IP transport across more than 230 cities. In June 2025, Colt and ID Quantique completed a quantum-secured encryption trial on Colt's live optical wave network.

The trial exercised QKD, pre-shared key, and post-quantum cryptography options across a 1,361 km London-to-Frankfurt span and an 88 km London-Slough metro span, using IDQ Clavis XG QKD systems and the Clarion KX key exchange platform, and achieved 99.9999% key transmission reliability. Colt has announced plans to commercialise quantum-safe network services for financial services and government customers.

Colt Technology Services

Craft Prospect is a British space technology and satellite communications company founded in 2013. It participates in the QKDSat consortium, led by Honeywell, which is developing ultra-secure telecommunications satellites that use quantum key distribution technology. The consortium includes Redwire Space, British Telecom, QTLabs Austria, Honeywell Canada, and partners in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Craft Prospect brings satellite systems engineering and space technology expertise to quantum-secured satellite communications. It collaborates with the European Space Agency and industry partners to advance quantum communications infrastructure for government, defense, and commercial applications.

The company focuses on integrating quantum key distribution into satellite platforms and developing operational quantum-secured satellite communications systems. It serves government agencies, defense contractors, telecommunications operators, and satellite communication providers that need quantum-safe satellite systems to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive government communications from cyber threats and quantum computing attacks.

Craft Prospect

Crypta Labs is a UK quantum security company founded in 2014 that specializes in quantum random number generation. It develops quantum entropy sources and random number generators that draw on quantum physical processes to produce genuinely unpredictable randomness, the kind required for encryption keys, digital signatures, and secure protocols.

The company serves cybersecurity firms, telecommunications providers, and other organizations that need certified, high-quality entropy sources for quantum-safe cryptography and secure communications infrastructure.

Crypta Labs

Crypto Quantique is a UK quantum security company founded in 2016 that develops quantum-driven IoT security. It uses quantum tunneling effects in semiconductor devices to generate unique cryptographic keys and device identities, providing hardware-based quantum random number generation and quantum-enhanced security for Internet of Things devices, edge computing systems, and connected infrastructure. The technology enables secure device authentication, encrypted communications, and tamper-resistant security for smart cities, automotive, industrial IoT, and consumer electronics applications that need quantum-grade security at scale.

In November 2024, Crypto Quantique partnered with Xiphera to combine QDID PUF technology with nQrux Hardware Trust Engines, creating a solution that eliminates cryptographic key storage in flash memory and reduces side-channel attack risk for IoT deployments.

Crypto Quantique

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited is a multinational professional services network founded in 1845. It has built a quantum computing consulting practice that spans quantum strategy and roadmap development, use-case identification, and the implementation of quantum proofs-of-concept.

Deloitte has published extensive research on quantum's impact in financial services, life sciences, and supply chain management. The firm helps clients explore how quantum technology can improve drug discovery, including work on full-stack quantum computers for drug development. Through Deloitte Consulting, it offers quantum computing strategy, implementation consulting, quantum algorithm development, and quantum workforce training for enterprises.

Deloitte named Qblox the fastest-growing high-tech hardware company in the Netherlands in 2023 and 2024 through its Deloitte Fast 50 Deep Tech Award. The firm serves global enterprises across industries that need quantum computing advisory, implementation, and workforce development, supporting organizations preparing for quantum advantage and quantum-safe security transitions. Update 2026-06-12: IQM Quantum Computers appointed Barbara Venneman, former Global Head of Deloitte Digital, to its Board. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/iqm-scales-presence-former-deloitte/

Deloitte

Duality Quantum Photonics is a UK-based quantum technology company founded in 2020 that develops integrated quantum photonics circuits and components for quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing applications, specializing in integrated photonic chips that enable scalable photonic quantum systems with high integration density, providing essential building blocks for photonic quantum technologies including quantum light sources, quantum interferometers, and photonic quantum processors for researchers and companies developing quantum applications. In February 2026, Duality won a contract with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to process optical signals for fusion-reactor error detection, and it has raised more than GBP 10M in non-dilutive funding.

Duality Quantum Photonics

Edwards Vacuum is a British engineering company founded in 1919 by physicist Frederick David Edwards and his father William. It specializes in vacuum and cryogenic technologies for semiconductor, research, and industrial applications, and is headquartered in Burgess Hill, UK. The company has been part of the Atlas Copco Group since 2014.

In 2018, Edwards acquired Brooks Automation's CTI-Cryogenics and Polycold cryopump operations for $675 million, expanding its cryogenic capabilities. Its cryogenic products serve the quantum computing industry, where photonics-based and ion-trap quantum computers need bespoke cryogenic solutions. In February 2022, Edwards joined a consortium led by Universal Quantum that was awarded a GBP 7.5M grant from Innovate UK to develop an error-corrected quantum computer; Edwards was responsible for designing, assembling, and commissioning the extreme high vacuum system for the quantum error correction quantum computer (QEC QC). The combination of vacuum technology and cryogenic systems makes Edwards a key supplier to the global quantum computing hardware ecosystem.

Edwards Vacuum

Element Six is a UK synthetic diamond technology company established in 1946 that has become the world's leading supplier of synthetic diamond materials for quantum technologies. It produces ultra-pure single crystal diamonds with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers for quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communication. Its specialized diamond substrates, quantum-grade materials, and custom diamond solutions enable quantum sensors, quantum memory devices, and quantum photonics components used by research institutions and quantum technology companies worldwide, all relying on the unique properties of diamond's quantum defects and its exceptional material characteristics.

In September 2025, Element Six partnered with IonQ to produce quantum-grade synthetic diamond films. Update 2026-06-16: Element Six and Orbray established a reproducible process for manufacturing 3-inch wafer-scale single crystal diamond. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/inch-diamond-orbray-establish-reproducible/ Update 2025-09-05: IonQ and Element Six created foundry-compatible, quantum-grade diamond films to advance IonQ's 2 million-qubit goal. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/ionq-element-six-create-foundry-compatible-diamond-films-quantum-network/

Element Six

Filtronic is a UK-based provider of RF, microwave, and mmWave solutions, specializing in customized filters, diplexers, and low-noise amplifiers for quantum computing systems. Its cryogenic-compatible RF filters operate at temperatures near absolute zero to minimize microwave noise in superconducting qubit systems, and its switched filter banks allow dynamic frequency adjustment as quantum computing conditions change.

The company designs bespoke RF solutions for quantum computing customers, supporting both the control systems outside dilution refrigerators and the circuits inside them.

Filtronic

Firgun Ventures is a London-based venture capital fund dedicated exclusively to quantum technology investments. In 2025, it reached a $70 million first close toward a $250 million target. Its key investors include the Qatar Investment Authority and Ilyas Khan, the founder and former CEO of Quantinuum.

The fund backs early-stage quantum computing companies across the full quantum stack, spanning hardware, software, and applications. Firgun Ventures draws on its leadership team's experience in building and scaling quantum companies, and it aims to support the next generation of startups working in quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications.

Firgun Ventures

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is advancing quantum computing applications in pharmaceutical research. It partners with IBM, using the Quantum Heron and Condor processors for mRNA codon optimization and clinical data analysis, and works with D-Wave on quantum annealing for genetic algorithms.

The company collaborated with Capgemini UK and the National Quantum Computing Centre on quantum-enhanced drug discovery, developing machine learning pipelines that use quantum features to predict the reactivity of targeted covalent drugs. Led by Ross Walker, Global Director of Scientific Research Computing & Analytics, GSK takes part in the QuPharm consortium alongside other major pharmaceutical companies to structure quantum computing's potential in drug discovery, focusing on optimization problems that exceed traditional computational capabilities in messenger RNA research and therapeutic development.

GSK Quantum

HSBC Holdings PLC is a British multinational universal bank and financial services holding company founded on March 3, 1865. The bank applies quantum computing to risk management, portfolio optimization, fraud detection, asset pricing, algorithmic trading, and secure tokenized asset transactions using quantum key distribution. It invests in post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe communication networks, and collaborates with leading quantum companies including IBM and Quantinuum, working alongside JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs in quantum finance.

HSBC has worked with Quantinuum since June 2023. In September 2024 it trialed the first application of quantum-secure technology for buying and selling tokenized physical gold.

On September 25, 2025, HSBC and IBM announced what they described as the first known empirical evidence of the potential value of current quantum computers for solving real-world problems in algorithmic bond trading. Using a quantum-classical hybrid approach, the trial delivered up to a 34% improvement in predicting how likely a trade would be filled at a quoted price, demonstrating quantum advantage for a financial application.

In December 2023, HSBC demonstrated QKD-secured AI-powered FX trading over 63km of fiber with BT, Toshiba, and AWS, the first live QKD-secured FX trade, protecting a EUR 30M EUR/USD scenario. Update 2026-04-28: Haiqu and HSBC jointly researched a method that reduces circuit depth for encoding probability distributions. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/haiqus-method-cuts-circuit/

HSBC

IP Group is a UK-listed intellectual property commercialization company founded in 2001. It partners with universities to identify promising research and build businesses from it. Listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker IPO, the firm manages billions of pounds in assets and runs a dedicated quantum technology investment program.

In August 2020, IP Group launched a £12 million Investment Partnership in Quantum Technology to increase quantum startup activity in the UK. Its quantum portfolio includes Phasecraft, which develops quantum algorithms for materials and life sciences. Through its ownership of Parkwalk Advisors, acquired in 2017, IP Group holds indirect stakes in Oxford Quantum Circuits and Quantum Motion. The firm has a dedicated Quantum Portfolio Investment Director, Dr. Manjari Chandran-Ramesh, who evaluates investments across quantum hardware, software, and applications. Its focus areas are connectivity, situational awareness, imaging and sensing, and computing.

IP Group

Imperial College London is a public research university founded in 1907 in London, United Kingdom. It conducts quantum research through quantum science and engineering programs covering quantum computing, quantum photonics, and quantum materials. The Controlled Quantum Dynamics Theory group and related research advance quantum algorithms, quantum control, and quantum hardware, while other work contributes to quantum communications and quantum sensing.

Imperial collaborates with UK quantum companies and maintains industry partnerships to support quantum technology commercialization. Through research, education, and technology transfer, the university supports the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and ranks among the leading quantum research institutions. Update 2026-06-19: A prototype quantum sensor developed at Imperial College London demonstrates a key principle for next-generation quantum detectors. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/quantum-gravitational-wave-imperial-led-aion/

Imperial College London

KETS Quantum Security is a UK quantum communications company founded in 2016 as a University of Bristol spinout, pioneering chip-scale QKD devices. Its products are Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG), aimed at defense, finance, critical infrastructure, and telecoms. As a Series A company, it has raised $4.39M in funding from Speedinvest and Quantonation.

In April 2025, KETS completed a 1.7 million pound Innovate UK contract to develop a scalable, server-sized QKD prototype for critical infrastructure. BT consulted on the design and is now testing the prototype, and Innovate UK called the company a leader in quantum network components. In November 2025, CEO Lisa Matthews warned that the UK needs a Quantum Sovereign Wealth Fund or risks losing quantum companies, talent, and IP to foreign markets, noting that several UK firms, including PsiQuantum, Universal Quantum, and Oxford Ionics, had shifted operations abroad because of limited domestic scale-up capital.

KETS Quantum Security

Kuano uses quantum simulation and quantum-inspired AI for enzyme drug design with programs in epigenetics, protein degradation, and infectious disease. The London company develops quantum-enhanced drug discovery platforms. Kuano combines quantum algorithms with machine learning to accelerate enzyme engineering and drug design, targeting challenging therapeutic areas where conventional computational methods provide limited insights.

Kuano London

Lumenisity was a UK-based photonics company founded in 2017 as a spinout from the University of Southampton. It developed hollow core fiber technology for quantum communications and telecommunications.

The company's CoreSmart hollow core fibers enable ultra-low latency data transmission and improved security, which suits them to quantum key distribution (QKD) networks. Compared with traditional solid core optical fibers, the technology reduces signal latency and strengthens data security. Lumenisity served telecommunications operators, financial services, cloud providers, and quantum communication networks that need fast, secure data transmission.

In 2022, Microsoft acquired Lumenisity to advance hollow core fiber deployment for its cloud and quantum networking infrastructure.

Lumenisity

M Squared was a Glasgow-based photonics and quantum company known for the SolsTiS laser platform, used in a large share of cold-matter quantum physics experiments worldwide, and the Maxwell neutral-atom quantum computing system. In August 2025, M Squared Lasers entered administration with a creditor shortfall of around GBP 64M. Its assets and intellectual property, including the laser and quantum computing technology, were subsequently acquired by Novacene Photonics, a new company led by M Squared co-founder Graeme Malcolm.

M Squared

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK government's cybersecurity authority, founded in 2016 as part of GCHQ and headquartered in London. It publishes the UK's authoritative guidance on migrating to post-quantum cryptography, including the 2023 white paper 'Next steps in preparing for post-quantum cryptography' and the 2025 PQC migration timeline. That timeline requires critical infrastructure operators to discover and prioritise vulnerable cryptography by 2028, complete priority migrations by 2031, and finish full migration by 2035.

NCSC works with vendors, regulators, and EU and Five Eyes counterparts on the adoption of PQC standards including ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA. It has historically taken a sceptical position on QKD for general-purpose UK government use, favouring algorithmic PQC instead.

National Cyber Security Centre

The National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) is the UK Government's corporate venture capital arm for dual-use advanced technologies, established in 2018 and managed by the British Business Bank. It targets high-priority technology areas including quantum, AI, semiconductors, and space communications, with a focus on UK national security and economic resilience. The fund has made 22 investments to date and serves as a critical early-stage capital source for UK quantum hardware spinouts with national security applications.

Notable quantum portfolio companies include Oxford Ionics (a 2 million pound investment in 2023), Nu Quantum (a participant in a $60 million Series A in 2025, co-led by National Grid Partners), Phasecraft (quantum algorithms software), Riverlane (quantum error correction, with NSSIF participating in its Series B), Orca Computing (photonic quantum), PsiQuantum (photonic quantum), and Delta-g (quantum gravimetry). The fund's quantum work spans computing, sensing, communications, and post-quantum cryptography.

National Security Strategic Investment Fund

Novacene Photonics is a Glasgow-based developer of photonic and quantum technologies, building integrated optical quantum systems, vapour-cell frequency locks, and quantum sensing instruments for research institutions and the emerging quantum industry. Its precision photonics also serve spectroscopy, healthcare diagnostics, and laser calibration for Earth-observation satellites.

The company was formed in 2025 by the former leadership of M Squared Lasers, acquiring the predecessor's intellectual property, and is led by M Squared co-founder Graeme Malcolm. It builds on more than fifteen years of photonics heritage.

Novacene Photonics

Optalysys is a UK-based photonic computing company founded in 2013 in Leeds. It develops optical hardware to accelerate Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a technology that lets data be processed securely without ever being decrypted, keeping it private while still producing useful computational results. By using light-based computing, Optalysys works around the performance bottlenecks that have limited FHE adoption, handling multiple data streams at once for greater security and speed.

In 2015, the company partnered with the Earlham Institute on energy-efficient genetic search systems. By 2017 it was collaborating with DARPA and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on advanced optical processing. In 2021, Optalysys shifted its focus to FHE acceleration using silicon photonics, and its LightLocker Node product enables confidential blockchain capabilities.

The company raised £23M to advance its photonic computing work and expand into the US.

Optalysys

Photarix is a 2024-2025 Lancaster University spinout developing Quantum Ring Single-Photon Light-Emitting Diodes (QR SPLEDs) for Quantum Key Distribution. The devices are compact, low-cost, and run at room temperature, delivering on-demand single-photon emission at telecom wavelengths without cryogenic cooling. The company was founded by Gizem Acar Tekin, who serves as CEO, and Professor Manus Hayne, who serves as Chief Scientific Officer. It is the first Lancaster spinout through the NW CyberCom programme.

In November 2025 Photarix showcased its work at the UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase in London, and in 2026 it was invited to host a stand at the International Cyber Expo in London.

Funding has come from the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme through the Quantimony doctoral network, Innovate UK's Future Telecoms ICURe programme, and Research England's NW CyberCom, a £1.2M initiative. Applications span quantum-secure communications for banking, messaging, and data storage.

Photarix

Photon Force is an Edinburgh-based company that develops high-performance single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays and time-resolved imaging solutions for quantum sensing and photonics applications. Founded as a spinout from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, it commercializes SPAD sensor technology that enables photon-counting detection with picosecond timing resolution.

Photon Force's sensors serve quantum key distribution, quantum imaging, LIDAR, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), and quantum communication systems. The company supplies enabling components for photonic quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing systems that require single-photon detection.

Photon Force

The Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre (QTEC) was a pre-incubator program created in 2016 at the University of Bristol, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of the UK's GBP 270 million National Quantum Technologies Programme. Its mission was to assess the scientific and commercial viability of quantum technology products, offering training and mentorship for quantum technology innovators and entrepreneurs, led by expert mentors in the field.

Over five years and four cohorts, QTEC supported more than 48 individuals who went on to create roughly a third of the UK's funded quantum technology companies, and its portfolio companies collectively raised over GBP 56 million. Notable alumni include Zero Point Motion, which works on quantum-enhanced inertial sensing, along with numerous other UK quantum technology spinouts.

QTEC closed in July 2022 when the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme funding concluded. After its closure, many of the program's learnings were carried into SETsquared Bristol's Quest pre-incubation programme, which continues to support deep technology entrepreneurs. QTEC's lasting legacy is its foundational role in building the commercial base of the UK's quantum technology industry.

QTEC

Qoro is a quantum software startup developing tools that dramatically simplify quantum integration, reducing integration code by 98% according to 2026 benchmarks. The company targets the practical deployment of quantum algorithms across heterogeneous hardware platforms, lowering the barrier for enterprise quantum adoption. Update 2026-03-03: Qoro Quantum developed Maestro to dynamically optimize quantum simulation by integrating multiple simulation approaches. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/qoro-quantum-simulation-integration/

Qoro

The Quantum Business Incubation Centre (QuBIC) is a UK government-supported quantum startup incubation program based at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. It is operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in partnership with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), and it supports businesses developing products or services that rely on quantum technologies, covering quantum computing software and hardware, quantum sensing, and quantum communications.

The program offers a support package that includes up to GBP 50,000 of targeted R&D funding, GBP 10,000 of R&D vouchers for use with public sector partners, up to 50 hours of business support such as one-to-one coaching, investment readiness, market validation, and intellectual property advice, and introductions to investors, funders, and the Harwell campus ecosystem.

QuBIC operates as part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme within the Harwell quantum cluster. Participants include Applied Quantum Computing for healthcare patient optimization, Finchetto for optical network switching, OpenQuantum for an open-source quantum platform, and Qoro Quantum. The program has run multiple cohorts since launching in 2023 and is a key part of the UK's strategy to commercialize publicly funded quantum research.

Quantum Business Incubation Centre

QuantumLeap AI develops quantum machine learning software and AI-powered tools for optimizing quantum algorithms. Based in London, the company combines quantum computing with classical AI to build hybrid systems for complex data analysis and pattern recognition. Its platform provides tools for developing quantum neural networks, performing quantum feature extraction, and training quantum-enhanced AI models.

Target applications include drug discovery, materials science, and financial modeling, areas where quantum machine learning could offer advantages. The company concentrates on practical applications that can run on near-term quantum hardware, collaborates with AI researchers and quantum computing companies, and offers both software tools and consulting services for quantum AI development.

QuantumLeap AI

TreQ Global Inc is a quantum systems engineering company founded in 2023 by US Air Force Reserve Brigadier-General Mandy Birch. It builds and operates bespoke quantum computing clusters when and where clients need them, working as a global, high-level manufacturing company that produces next-generation computing clusters containing quantum processors.

In October 2024, TreQ closed an oversubscribed seed round of more than $5 million led by Lavrock Ventures, with participation from Creator Fund, Green Sands Equity, and firstminute capital. The company's approach moves away from single-technology, lab-based quantum computing toward open-architecture design, systems engineering, and high-level manufacturing, integrating components and processor prototypes from various sources to deliver complete quantum systems. Its team members have built some of the world's first commercial quantum computers, with experience at NASA, Apple, Cisco, and the Department of Defense.

TreQ is headquartered at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, the UK's largest single-ownership innovation community, a location chosen because of the UK's standing as a global quantum hub. Its products include the COMPASS SG25B turnkey Quantum Innovation Station, which features Rigetti's Novera 9-qubit QPU and Qblox modular quantum control stacks. In 2025, an Innovate UK grant of GBP 1.65M funded a TreQ-led consortium, with Rigetti, Oxford Ionics, Q-CTRL, and Qruise, to build an Open Architecture Quantum Testbed, which TreQ deployed as a live multi-vendor system in April 2026. Update 2026-04-23: TreQ developed and deployed an Open-Architecture Quantum Testbed, a multi-vendor system for use in the Innovate UK Quantum Mission Pilot. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/multi-vendor-quantum-system-treq-builds/

TreQ

TundraSystems Global LTD is a quantum optical computing company founded in October 2014 in Cardiff, Wales, by Dr. Brian Antao, who holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Vanderbilt University. The company develops a quantum photonics technology library and the TundraProcessor quantum photonics microprocessor, drawing on work from academic sources including the University of Bristol, MIT, and the UK Quantum Technology Hubs to build computational solutions in an all-optical regime using the Quantum Computational Paradigm.

At the heart of the TundraSystem is a 64-qubit quantum processor that functions as a High-Performance Computing Unit (HPC Unit). The company is also developing TundraQOS, a universal quantum operating system with classical control. TundraSystems was featured in The Journal of Supercomputing's review of scalable fault-tolerant photonic quantum computers, alongside iPronics, Jiuzhang, ORCA Computing, Photonic Inc., PsiQuantum, Quandela, QuiX Quantum, TuringQ, and Xanadu.

TundraSystems Global

The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university founded around 1096 in Oxford, England, and the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It conducts quantum research through the Oxford Quantum Information Science group, the Department of Physics, and the Oxford Quantum Circuits spinout, with work spanning quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum communications.

Oxford researchers contribute to ion trap quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum error correction, and quantum hardware development. The university has produced numerous quantum technology spinouts, including Oxford Quantum Circuits, and maintains partnerships with quantum companies. Through fundamental research, education, and technology transfer, Oxford supports UK quantum technology leadership and stands as a global quantum research leader. In February 2025, an Oxford team demonstrated the first distributed quantum algorithm across a photonic network link between two ion-trap modules, published in Nature, and in 2025 Oxford reported a single-qubit gate with an error rate of about one in 6.7 million operations.

University of Oxford

Ångström AI is a Cambridge University spinout founded in 2024 by Javier Antoran, José Miguel Hernández-Lobato, and Laurence Midgley. The company develops GenAI-based molecular simulations to substitute for wet lab experiments in pre-clinical drug development, combining quantum-accurate physics models with generative AI so that biotech and pharmaceutical clients can verify a drug candidate's efficacy and safety in computer simulations that match wet lab accuracy while running over 100x faster.

The company uses the MACE (multi-atomic cluster expansion) physics model to reproduce quantum-mechanical interactions accurately, and its recent research showed simulations that are the first to match lab experiments when estimating hydration-free energies. Ångström AI accelerates MACE simulations using diffusion models to make them computationally affordable. It is backed by Y Combinator and was founded by a team of two PhDs and two Professors from Cambridge.

Ångström AI

4colors Research is an algorithmic R&D consultancy based in Cambridge, UK, founded in 2016 by CEO Marcin Kaminski, who holds an M.Sc. in quantum computing and a Ph.D. in operations research. The company specializes in developing solvers for complex mathematical optimization problems, blending classical optimization methods with quantum computing. It believes the future is hybrid, combining classical and quantum optimization.

4colors Research won the Airbus-BMW Quantum Computing Challenge in 2024 for Quantum-Powered Logistics, beating more than 420 teams globally as the sole UK finalist. In December 2025, Airbus selected the company for a proof of concept to benchmark its optimization framework against production planning and logistics scenarios. 4colors Research was also named an XPRIZE Quantum Competition semifinalist, placing in the top 20 from more than 130 submissions in the competition sponsored by Google Quantum AI.

4colors Research

BQP is a London-based quantum software company founded in 2022. It develops the BQPhy platform for quantum-accelerated digital twin and simulation workloads, specializing in Variational Quantum Linear Solver (VQLS) implementations and hybrid quantum-classical solutions for industrial applications. The company's aim is to make quantum computing practical for engineering simulation in fields such as aerospace, automotive, and energy.

In November 2025, BQP demonstrated hybrid quantum-classical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in collaboration with NVIDIA CUDA-Q and Classiq. Through 2025 it continued to advance its hybrid quantum-classical simulation platform, focusing on industrial CFD and digital twin applications with demonstrated results on real quantum hardware. In July 2025, BQP closed a $5M oversubscribed seed round led by Monta Vista Capital, bringing total funding to $6.6M, and signed a cooperative research agreement with the US Air Force Research Laboratory to apply its quantum-accelerated digital twin platform to aerospace and defense modeling. Update 2026-05-11: Pilot programs show that QuantumFrontiers has achieved a 30 percent reduction in flight clearance times. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/bqp-cuts-flight-clearance-times/

CryoCoax is a UK manufacturer of cryogenic coaxial cables and connectors, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Berkshire. CryoCoax assemblies are designed for use inside dilution refrigerators between room-temperature electronics and millikelvin qubit packages, with thermalisation, attenuator, and filtering options for superconducting and trapped-ion installations. The company is a regular supplier to academic qubit groups and to commercial dilution-fridge integrators including Bluefors and Oxford Instruments.

CryoCoax

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is an executive agency of the UK Ministry of Defence, headquartered at Porton Down in Wiltshire. Dstl conducts classified and open quantum science and technology research focused on defence and national security applications. Key quantum programmes include quantum sensing for navigation, covering positioning, navigation, and timing without GPS, quantum imaging, quantum communication for secure military networks, and quantum computing applications for defence analysis and logistics optimisation.

Dstl is a significant funder and commissioner of quantum technology research in the UK, working through EPSRC and Innovate UK channels as well as direct research contracts. It participates in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and maintains partnerships with academia, including Oxford, Cambridge, Sussex, and Imperial College, and with industry quantum companies. Dstl's quantum sensing programmes have focused heavily on cold-atom gravimeters and accelerometers for submarine navigation, detection of underground structures, and precision timing systems that operate without satellite infrastructure.

Dstl operates the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), which funds early-stage quantum technology development through small grants, and it participates in NATO quantum technology working groups. Quantum research at Dstl spans the full range from fundamental physics through technology demonstrators to transition into defence procurement. Update 2026-02-20: Dstl supported the development of improved atomic clock technology for UK defence needs. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/dstl-atomic-clocks-clock-resilience/

Dstl

GP Bullhound is a London-based technology investment bank and venture capital firm founded in 1999 that provides advisory and investment services to technology companies globally. Its growth equity arm, Bullhound Capital, invests in high-growth technology companies across Europe and beyond.

GP Bullhound made a landmark quantum computing investment by leading Q-CTRL's $113 million Series B in October 2024, the largest aggregate Series B for any quantum software company and a global quantum technology fundraising record at the time. The firm also invested in Quantum Systems, the European dual-use technology company, taking part in its €160M Series C through Bullhound Capital. GP Bullhound publishes quarterly quantum technology market reports analyzing industry trends, funding patterns, and technology milestones. Its quantum investments were made through GP Bullhound Fund VI.

GP Bullhound

Kelvin Nanotechnology is the University of Glasgow's commercialisation partner for nanofabrication, providing foundry services for advanced photonics and quantum components. Operating through the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre in Glasgow, it is one of the earliest suppliers of miniaturised quantum components, producing 3D ion traps, grating magneto-optical traps (MOTs), MEMS gravimeters, and specialist DFB lasers.

The company supplies industry and academia with fabrication for quantum information processing, chip-scale cold-atom systems, sensors, and high-precision timing and navigation. It has operated for more than twenty years.

Kelvin Nanotechnology

M Squared Lasers was a Glasgow-based photonics and quantum technology company founded in 2006 by Dr. Graeme Malcolm OBE and Dr. Gareth Maker. It specialized in laser, quantum, and photonics systems used in fundamental physics research. The company grew to roughly 100 employees, exported more than 90% of its products, and doubled in size every two years from 2012, reaching revenue of about 19 million pounds.

M Squared's products enabled advances in quantum science, including the UK's first commercially viable quantum accelerometer, along with quantum clocks, quantum sensors, and quantum computing systems for industrial applications. The company pioneered the UK's first commercial quantum gravimeter and quantum accelerometer. Dr. Malcolm, awarded an OBE for services to Science and Innovation, regularly gave expert evidence on quantum technology to parliamentary committees and received numerous entrepreneurship awards.

In August 2025, M Squared Lasers entered administration, and all 28 staff were laid off immediately. Joint administrators Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs of Interpath were appointed. The company cited COVID-19 pandemic supply chain disruptions and the Ukraine conflict as contributing factors. Assets, including the SolsTiS laser platform intellectual property, were put up for sale.

M Squared Lasers

Mode Labs is a University of Oxford spin-out, founded in 2021, that develops continuous, remote, real-time chemical sensors built on quantum sensing technologies. Its sensors are designed for environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and chemical detection where high precision and uninterrupted operation matter.

Using quantum physics principles, Mode Labs builds sensors with high sensitivity and accuracy for chemical analysis, gas detection, and environmental monitoring across industries including pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, environmental science, and industrial manufacturing. The platform supports remote monitoring and real-time data collection for applications that need continuous chemical analysis.

Mode Labs

Molten Ventures, formerly Draper Esprit, is a UK-listed venture capital firm that invests in technology companies across Europe, with a focus on deep tech hardware, software, and digital health. Listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker GROW, Molten manages approximately 1.5 billion pounds in assets and holds a portfolio of about 70 companies. It also operates EIS and SEIS funds for UK private investors alongside its listed fund.

Molten led Riverlane's 15 million pound Series B in 2023, alongside Altair, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, and the UK's National Security Strategic Investment Fund. Riverlane develops quantum error correction technology as foundational infrastructure for fault-tolerant quantum computing. As Draper Esprit, the firm previously backed European unicorns including Revolut and Aircall. Its investment in Riverlane reflects a thesis of backing companies that build the quantum operating systems and error correction needed for commercially useful quantum computing.

Molten Ventures

Moth Quantum (MOTH) is a technology company founded in 2022 with offices in London and Basel. It builds quantum-powered products and services for the creative industries, focusing on media and entertainment. The company launched RECURSE, the world's first quantum-powered AI music track, created with electronic artist ILĀ using its proprietary Archaeo platform that combines generative AI with quantum machine learning.

MOTH develops quantum-powered music production tools including synthesizers, generative music models, and audio-processing technology. Its leadership includes CEO Ilana Wisby, former Oxford Quantum Circuits CEO who helped raise $100 million; founder Harry Kumar as Chief Creative Officer; IBM quantum veteran James Wooton as Chief Scientific Officer; and Spencer Topel as CTO. The company aims to support and enhance artists rather than replace them, making quantum technology accessible to creative professionals and consumers. Update 2026-05-29: Moth launched Quantum Backrooms, an open-access game generated on live IBM and IQM quantum hardware. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/moth-quantum-backrooms-first-quantum-consumer-game/

Moth Quantum

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK's national measurement institute, founded in 1900 and located in Teddington, southwest London. NPL plays a central role across the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, providing measurement science, expert guidance, and facilities that help industry and researchers develop quantum products with confidence. The Quantum Metrology Institute (QMI) at NPL combines quantum research with time and frequency research, housing over 50 internationally recognised researchers focused on quantum development.

NPL's Measurement for Quantum (M4Q) programme gives UK businesses access to NPL quantum scientists and research facilities at no charge to support the development and validation of quantum technologies. Research areas span quantum materials, quantum sensors for gravity, inertial forces, and magnetic field measurements, quantum computing, quantum communications and networking, quantum electrical metrology for the SI units of current, voltage, and resistance, and characterisation and imaging of materials at nano to atomic scale. NPL develops test and evaluation capabilities for quantum products and contributes to standardisation and supply chain development for the quantum sector.

NPL is sponsored by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and managed by UKRI. It serves as the UK's primary reference point for quantum measurement standards and contributes to international quantum metrology through collaboration with peer institutions including NIST in the USA, PTB in Germany, and BIPM. Update 2025-07-09: NPL successfully trapped its first ions in its new ion trap, providing a stable platform for quantum computing development. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/npl-microtrap-boosts-uk-quantum-computing-at-nqcc/

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK's flagship quantum computing research facility, established in 2020 at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire as part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. With a team of more than 80 staff, it brings together quantum researchers, industry partners, and government agencies. Its Programme Oversight Board includes EPSRC and STFC members. The NQCC provides access to a range of quantum computing platforms, supports collaboration between academia and industry, develops quantum software and applications, and acts as a central hub for the UK's quantum computing ecosystem.

Hardware installed at the NQCC includes an Infleqtion 100-qubit neutral atom system from March 2026, a Quantum Motion silicon CMOS qubit system from September 2025, an ORCA Computing PT-2 photonic processor, and a Nu Quantum trapped-ion quantum networking laboratory.

The SparQ programme, formerly QCAP, is the centre's main user engagement initiative, offering UK researchers and industry access to quantum computing systems. SparQ Access opens for academic proposals each quarter, with the Q1 2026 round closing on 5 January 2026 for a February to April 2026 access period. In February 2026, 15 SparQ Proof of Concept projects were awarded, including an STFC Cross Cluster cohort focused on the energy sector.

In December 2025, the NQCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the QCi3 Hub at the University of York Quantum Communications Hub, deepening collaboration between the quantum computing and communications communities. On 12 December 2025, it announced a Google Quantum AI collaboration giving UK researchers access to Google's Willow processor under the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal. In February 2026, the NQCC published its Responsible and Ethical Quantum Computing Action Plan, setting out a framework for ethical governance of quantum computing research and deployment.

On 17 March 2026, Chancellor Rachel Reeves vi

NQCC

Oxford Instruments is a UK-based scientific instruments company founded in 1959 as the first commercial spin-out from Oxford University. It has become a leading provider of cryogenic systems essential for quantum computing, developing the Proteox family of dilution refrigerators. The ProteoxQX modular systems exceed 3 meters in height with scalable workspace for large quantum processing units, providing 25 µW cooling power at 20 mK temperatures and the I/O capacity needed for qubit scale-up.

The company serves quantum computing companies including Oxford Quantum Circuits and Rigetti. It sold its NanoScience quantum-focused division to Quantum Design for £60 million to focus on other scientific instrument applications.

In November 2025, Oxford Instruments announced participation in a quantum-AI data center initiative in New York City, contributing cryogenic systems and quantum enabling technologies to support quantum computing infrastructure for AI applications. Update 2026-05-24: Rigetti Computing purchased a PlasmaPro 100 Cobra atomic layer etch system from Oxford Instruments for its quantum foundry. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/plasmapro-100-cobra-rigettis-ambitious/ Update 2025-06-10: Oxford Instruments sold its NanoScience quantum technology division to Quantum Design for £60 million. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/oxford-instruments-sells-quantum-business-to-us-firm-amidst-results-delay-and-share-decline/

Oxford Instruments

PA Consulting operates a quantum technology practice solving business challenges from decision support to advanced sensing and security applications. The British consultancy helps organizations identify quantum computing use cases, develop quantum strategies, and implement quantum technology pilots. PA Consulting serves clients in government, defense, finance, and healthcare sectors with quantum technology consulting, combining deep technical expertise with industry knowledge to deliver practical quantum solutions.

PA Consulting Quantum Technology

Parkwalk Advisors is a UK-based specialist university spinout investor founded in 2009, with 500 million pounds in assets under management and the distinction of being the UK's most active investor in the university spinout sector. The firm has been part of IP Group since 2017. Its primary investment vehicles are EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) funds, which make quantum computing accessible to UK private investors through tax-efficient structures.

Parkwalk describes itself as a founder investor in the UK quantum industry. Its quantum portfolio includes Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC, with an initial investment in 2017), Quantum Motion Technologies (a participant in its 42 million pound round in 2023), and Phasecraft (quantum algorithms software). As of June 2025, Parkwalk had invested 483.4 million pounds in 200 companies across its EIS funds, achieving 39 exits with returns up to 16x and returning 165.8 million pounds to investors. The firm specializes in backing quantum spinouts from Oxford, Cambridge, and other leading UK research universities.

Parkwalk Advisors

Planet First Partners is a growth equity sustainable investment platform based in London that backs companies advancing the transition to a sustainable economy. It operates a Sustainable Economy Transition Fund focused on technologies that enable decarbonization and environmental sustainability.

In August 2024, the firm led Riverlane's $75 million Series C, alongside ETF Partners and Singapore's EDBI, in the first European quantum computing Series C. Planet First Partners invested in Riverlane based on the potential for quantum error correction to accelerate breakthroughs in climate science, materials discovery, and pharmaceutical development.

The firm views quantum computing as a transformative technology for sustainability, particularly in computational chemistry and materials simulation, and the Riverlane investment shows the growing overlap between climate tech and quantum computing investment theses in the global venture capital ecosystem.

Planet First Partners

Plessey Semiconductors is a UK-based developer of optoelectronic technology, operating as the UK's only LED manufacturer and the only LED maker globally that commercializes LEDs on silicon substrates using its proprietary GaN-on-Silicon platform. Its connection to quantum technology comes through partnerships that integrate Nanoco Technologies' cadmium-free quantum dot semiconductor nanoparticle technology into its monolithic microLED displays for augmented and virtual reality.

With 150mm and 200mm wafer processing facilities in Plymouth and photonic characterization laboratories, Plessey provides full-field emissive microLED displays that combine high-density RGB pixel arrays with CMOS backplanes. These have potential applications in optical processing units for AI operations that run faster and more energy-efficiently than traditional silicon devices.

Plessey Semiconductors

Plural is a European venture capital firm launched in June 2022, co-headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia and London, UK. It was founded by entrepreneurs including Taavet Hinrikus, co-founder of TransferWise, and Ian Hogarth, and positions itself as a catalyst for companies delivering GDP-level impact across Europe.

In September 2025, Plural made a significant quantum technology investment by co-leading Phasecraft's $34 million Series B, alongside existing investors Playground Global and Novo Holdings' Quantum Fund. Phasecraft develops quantum algorithms software for materials simulation and drug discovery, and the investment reflects Plural's thesis around transformative scientific computing.

The firm invests mainly in European companies from Seed through Series B, running a high-conviction, relatively concentrated portfolio. Its partners bring backgrounds in building and scaling major European technology companies across fintech, enterprise software, and deep tech.

Plural

Post-Quantum is a UK cybersecurity company founded in 2009 that specializes in post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe security.

The company develops cryptographic libraries, security protocols, and migration tools that help organizations move from classical encryption algorithms to quantum-resistant cryptography standards. It provides post-quantum cryptographic software, security consulting, and implementation support to enterprises, government agencies, and technology companies preparing for the point when current encryption methods become vulnerable to quantum attacks.

Post-Quantum

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a multinational professional services network founded in 1849, with its current form dating to a 1998 merger, headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

PwC provides quantum computing consulting services that span quantum strategy development, technology assessment, workforce training, and business transformation. Its quantum practice helps organizations understand the implications of quantum computing, identify use cases, and prepare for quantum transitions. PwC works with quantum computing providers and startups to bring quantum expertise to clients in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. Through quantum business consulting and education, the firm supports enterprise quantum readiness and the integration of quantum technology worldwide.

Qinara is an Edinburgh-based quantum computing startup developing CirQ, a quantum circuit optimizer that improves AI model accuracy and efficiency through a hybrid approach combining classical hardware with quantum optimization. The company claims its approach can improve AI model performance by up to 40% while reducing computational costs by 70%. It was founded by Swapnil Deshmukh (CEO, 12 years in Microsoft R&D), Satwik Dalvi (CTO, an ML engineer from YC-backed startups), and Rahat Santosh (COO, an AI specialist with a DRDO and Oracle background), and it targets AI model accuracy problems across sectors that include biomedicine, cybersecurity, and finance.

Qinara is part of Cohort 5.0 (2025) of the Venture Builder Incubator at the University of Edinburgh's Bayes Centre. The company is developing its CirQ optimizer while in the program, working to demonstrate quantum advantage for AI applications and to build partnerships across multiple industries.

Qinara

QinetiQ is a defense technology company conducting UK MoD quantum navigation trials and developing quantum sensing for aerospace and defense applications. The Farnborough company provides defense R&D. QinetiQ develops and tests quantum sensors for military applications including quantum navigation systems, quantum communications, and quantum radar, supporting UK defense requirements for advanced sensing technologies.

QinetiQ Quantum Technologies

Quantopticon develops Quantillion, described as the world's first software for modeling quantum photonic components. The company was founded by the mother-daughter team of Gaby Slavcheva, Chief Scientific Officer, and Mirella Koleva, CEO. Quantillion uses a patent-pending algorithm for precise quantum electrodynamics, letting hardware engineers build optimized, high-performing quantum-photonic components and integrated circuits. It shortens the optimization process from 26 weeks to 2 weeks and cuts costs by 90%.

The methodology behind Quantillion was developed over 20 years of patent-pending research. Funding includes Innovate UK grants, and the company maintains partnerships with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford. Quantopticon has participated in the Duality quantum accelerator and the Creative Destruction Lab.

Quantopticon

Quantrologee is a joint spin-out venture from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme devoted to high-precision measurement technology. The company is founded upon decades of expertise and intellectual property in quantum technologies and nanofabrication. Quantrologee develops advanced quantum sensors and metrology equipment for scientific research and industrial applications.

Quantrologee

Quantum Fabrix, trading as QFX, is a University of Oxford spinout incorporated in 2024 and founded by Dr Joe Goodwin (CTO), Dr Laurent Stephenson (CSO), and Dr Peter Drmota (CIO). Headquartered at Begbroke Science Park, the company builds on Oxford's trapped ion quantum computing research.

QFX provides modular quantum hardware for trapped ion systems, supplying precision modules used to build and link devices for quantum computing, sensing, and secure communications. It is developing the first scalable networked quantum computing architectures, combining individual trapped ions with optical microcavities, and already sells a compact, high-performance atomic source designed to integrate across quantum platforms.

In October 2025, QFX raised GBP 2 million (EUR 2.2M) in seed funding led by Silicon Valley investor and Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham. Associate Professor and ERC Laureate Dr Joe Goodwin leads the technical vision, while his co-founders bring experience from Oxford's quantum research programs.

Quantum Fabrix

Quantum Security Defence is a global community and consultancy organization focused on quantum technologies, quantum cybersecurity, and quantum secure communications. It was founded by Anna and Steve and operates internationally with a UK base, aiming to unite the global quantum supply chain so that adoption is trusted, secure, and resilient.

The organization has grown to more than 1,000 members, a fast-growing community of over 20,000, and more than 100 expert contributors. It provides enterprise supply chain consulting through a professional membership model, serving enterprises, governments, and critical infrastructure leaders navigating quantum adoption.

Its services include guidance through complexity from policy and standards to implementation roadmaps, access to 40 to 50 hours of expert lectures on quantum technologies and cybersecurity courses, and strategic consulting on quantum strategy that yields 85% cost savings and 4-week capability boosts. Quantum Security Defence operates as both an educational platform and a professional consultancy, helping organizations prepare for quantum threats while building quantum-ready infrastructure and security frameworks. Update 2026-04-11: SuperQ Quantum Computing joined Quantum Security Defence, increasing visibility for its SuperPQC platform. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/superqs-superpqc-platform-gains-global/

Quantum Security Defence

Qubo Quantum is a UK quantum technology consultancy offering training to implementation services, empowering organizations with quantum opportunities and threats understanding. The company provides quantum education programs, strategic consulting, and implementation support to help businesses adopt quantum technologies. Qubo Quantum serves enterprises across multiple sectors with customized quantum training programs, quantum strategy development, and practical guidance for integrating quantum computing into business operations.

Qubo Quantum

Queensgate manufactures piezo actuators with capacitance feedback for precision motion control and nanopositioning in quantum applications. The Torquay company provides closed-loop positioning systems. Queensgate's high-precision actuators enable nanometer-scale positioning for quantum optics experiments, quantum device manufacturing, and scientific instrumentation requiring ultra-stable positioning.

Queensgate Nanopositioning

Qureca is a UK quantum education and workforce development company founded in 2019. It provides quantum training programs, professional development courses, and recruitment services for the quantum technology industry.

Its educational content ranges from quantum fundamentals to advanced quantum computing applications, serving professionals, students, and organizations building quantum expertise. Qureca connects quantum talent with employers across academia, industry, and government, and develops curricula and certification programs to address the growing global demand for skilled professionals in quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum sensing, and related fields.

Qureca

RF Com manufactures high-density microwave interconnects for quantum computers with SMPM connectors at 4.75mm pitch enabling 120 lines on ISO 100 plate. The Abingdon company specializes in cryogenic RF. RF Com's CryoCoax high-density interconnect solutions address the wiring bottleneck in scaling quantum computers, enabling thousands of control and readout lines in compact dilution refrigerator spaces.

RF Com CryoCoax

Rahko was a UK quantum machine learning company applying quantum algorithms to drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. Founded in 2018 as a UCL spinout, Rahko developed quantum-enhanced methods for molecular simulation and drug-target interaction modelling. Rahko was acquired by ORCA Computing in 2025, bringing its quantum ML capabilities, including work with pharmaceutical companies and quantum chemistry algorithms, into ORCA's photonic quantum computing portfolio. The acquisition strengthened ORCA's drug discovery and materials science application layer.

Rahko

RobQuant is a UK quantum technology startup that emerged from the Quantum Engineering Technology lab at the University of Bristol. Founded by Dr. Joe Smith, the company builds robotic systems that can operate in the harsh conditions quantum experiments demand, including low temperatures and atomic-scale interactions.

RobQuant's precision robotic arms automate the manipulation and positioning involved in quantum sensing experiments. The design draws on surgical robotics to work within the constraints of quantum laboratory environments. The company concentrates on quantum microscopy and micro-robotics for precision quantum research.

RobQuant

Rolls-Royce explores quantum computing applications for the aerospace and energy sectors. It investigates quantum algorithms for engine design optimization, materials simulation, supply chain management, and predictive maintenance, with the goal of improving efficiency and performance in aviation and power generation systems.

The company has active quantum computing partnerships with PsiQuantum, for fault-tolerant algorithms in aerospace fluid mechanics (January 2026), and with Xanadu, for photonic quantum computing in engine design. Its quantum roadmap focuses on computational fluid dynamics, turbine blade optimization, and supply chain optimization. Rolls-Royce is a member of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Update 2026-06-16: Rolls-Royce and Classiq's CFD tests demonstrated that the Cheb-LCU algorithm can reduce quantum resources by up to 10 times. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/cheb-lcu-cuts-quantum-resources/ Update 2026-06-17: Rolls-Royce and Classiq's CFD study suggests the Cheb-LCU algorithm could reduce quantum resources by a factor of ten. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/cheb-lcu-cuts-quantum-resources-rolls/ Update 2025-11-25: Rolls-Royce reduced jet engine airflow simulation times from weeks to under an hour using quantum computing through a collaboration with Xanadu and Riverlane. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/quantum-computing-airflow-simulation/

Rolls-Royce

SECQAI is an ultra-secure hardware and software company and NATO DIANA initiative member that announced the world's first hybrid Quantum Large Language Model (QLLM) in February 2025. The technology integrates quantum computing into traditional LLM structures to enhance computational efficiency, problem-solving capabilities, and linguistic understanding with applications in semiconductor design, cryptography, materials discovery, and pharmaceuticals. SECQAI is supported by NATO DIANA Accelerator and Innovate UK funding for quantum computing research. Update 2025-11-15: SECQAI completed the tape-out of a quantum-resistant CHERI TPM chip with TSMC. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/secqai-tsmc-cheri-quantum-security/

SECQAI

Standard Chartered PLC is a British multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 through a merger, with origins dating to 1853, and focuses on emerging markets banking across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The company explores quantum computing for banking applications, including fraud detection, financial modeling, and risk management. It is investigating post-quantum cryptography to protect banking infrastructure and customer data against quantum threats, and collaborates with fintech companies and quantum providers to explore quantum advantage for international banking operations.

Standard Chartered serves emerging markets banking that needs quantum-enhanced security and computational capabilities for cross-border transactions and financial services, and its work supports the move to post-quantum security for international banking operations.

Standard Chartered

Toshiba Quantum Technology Division is based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and operates as part of Toshiba Europe Limited's Cambridge Research Laboratory. It is headed by Andrew Shields. Toshiba began quantum cryptography research in 1999 and manufactures the Multiplexed QKD System at its Cambridge UK base. The division has demonstrated record-breaking QKD transmission distances and has deployed quantum-secured networks across Europe and Asia. It serves telecommunications operators, government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure sectors that need commercial-grade quantum key distribution systems and quantum-safe networking equipment.

In May 2024, Toshiba developed a quantum random number generator fully integrated into semiconductor chips and ready for mass manufacture. In March 2025, Toshiba Europe Limited launched a commercial QKD system that integrates post-quantum cryptography using NIST's ML-KEM standard for added quantum-safe security. In March 2026, Toshiba Europe developed technology to interconnect geographically separated QKD networks globally without additional hardware, using a hybrid QKD plus PQC bridge.

Toshiba collaborates with telecommunications operators including BT Group and with global financial institutions to deploy quantum-safe communications infrastructure. In April 2024, Toshiba and Single Quantum B.V. extended QKD range to 300km, double the previous limit, using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. In December 2025, Toshiba partnered with Quantum Corridor Inc. to demonstrate QKD over a live 21.8km metro fiber network connecting Illinois and Indiana, achieving FIPS 140-3 Level 2 certification, 100% line-rate throughput, and zero packet loss over 48 hours.

Toshiba Quantum Technology Division

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK's national centre for translating quantum research into industrial impact. It is based at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire.

The 4,000 m2 facility opened in November 2024 with 93M pounds of capital funding plus 50M pounds from UKRI, and it now hosts twelve quantum testbeds: eight delivered by industry partners and four built by NQCC scientists. The NQCC's SparQ user-engagement programme connects energy, healthcare, climate, and financial-services users to the testbeds, alongside a quantum-apprenticeship pipeline, PhD studentships, and industry crash-courses. The NQCC is the UK's primary public quantum-computing infrastructure facility.

UK National Quantum Computing Centre

University College London (UCL) is a public research university founded in 1826 in London, United Kingdom. Its quantum science and engineering programs advance quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum technologies.

UCL researchers contribute to quantum algorithms, quantum hardware, quantum networks, and quantum applications. The university collaborates with UK quantum companies and maintains quantum research partnerships. Through research, education, and technology transfer, UCL supports the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and the wider development of quantum technology.

University College London

University of Bristol is a red brick research university founded in 1876 in Bristol, United Kingdom. Its quantum photonics research is world-leading, advancing photonic quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum technologies.

The university's Quantum Engineering Technology Labs and Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training advance quantum hardware development. Bristol has produced quantum technology spinouts including PsiQuantum and Orca Computing. Through research, education, and technology transfer, the university supports UK quantum technology leadership and stands as a global leader in quantum photonics research. Update 2026-03-18: The University of Bristol revealed a quantum-inspired laser sensing technology that measures range accurately even in strong sunlight and difficult conditions. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/university-bristol-quantum-inspired-noise/

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