Company · Burgess Hill
Edwards Vacuum, headquartered in Burgess Hill and part of Atlas Copco since 2014, makes vacuum pumps and cryogenic equipment used in chipmaking and research. Its quantum work centres on trapped-ion computing: it joined Universal Quantum's Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund consortium in February 2022, taking charge of designing, building and commissioning the ultra-low-pressure chamber that houses the error-corrected processor. In December 2025 Atlas Copco signed a memorandum with Universal Quantum, carried out through Edwards, Leybold, Gamma and Montana Instruments, to co-develop vacuum systems for modular ion-trap machines and build UK and European supply chains.
Edwards Vacuum is a Burgess Hill company working on cryogenics, quantum components and quantum hardware, founded in 1919. It is now part of Atlas Copco Group. It is a partner in 1 UK project: Developing an error corrected quantum processor solution for commercial quantum computing.
Sources: Edwards Vacuum | Wikipedia · Edwards joins consortium for the development of an error-corrected quantum computer | Edwards Vacuum · Developing an error corrected quantum processor solution for commercial quantum computing | UKRI Gateway to Research · Universal Quantum and Atlas Copco sign MoU on quantum vacuum systems | The Quantum Insider
A Universal Quantum-led consortium building a trapped-ion quantum computer that can correct its own errors, with Rolls-Royce as end user.
Role: Partner
Funding: £7.5m
Themes: Computing
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Edwards Vacuum.
Research, commercial and investment relationships, by year. Partners with a profile here are linked.
Universal Quantum Research 2022
Chosen by shared specialisms, then location and type.
Company · Chelmsford · 3 shared specialisms
Company · Sedgefield · 3 shared specialisms
Company · Southampton · 2 shared specialisms
Company · Braintree · 2 shared specialisms
Company data from Entangled Future. Last checked 2 October 2026.
Logos and names are trademarks of their respective owners, used to identify them. No endorsement implied.
