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.
Quantum Specifications
Qubit Technology
Ion-trap
Physical Qubits
32
2Q Gate Fidelity
99.97%
Error Correction
Electronic-qubit-control
Quantum Focus
hardware
Physical Qubits32
2-Qubit Gate Fidelity99.97%
Key People
CB
Chris Ballance
Co-founder
TH
Tom Harty
Co-founder
Backed By
Lakestar
Lansdowne Partners
National Security Strategic Investment Fund
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Quantum Coast Capital
Type One Ventures
Trumpf Venture
Gic Government Of Singapore Investment Corporation
Research Partners
Oxford
Frequently Asked Questions
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 t...
Oxford Ionics is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Oxford Ionics was founded in 2019.
Oxford Ionics works with Trapped ion quantum technology.
Oxford Ionics has 32 physical qubits.
Oxford Ionics operates in the following sectors: quantum processors.
Oxford Ionics has raised $1.075B in total disclosed funding.
Oxford Ionics reports a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.97%, a key measure of how accurately its quantum hardware performs entangling operations.
