Company · Cambridge
Linking separate quantum processors with photons, so that several small machines can work as one, is the focus of Nu Quantum, a 2018 spin-out from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory. Its rack-mounted Quantum Networking Unit, launched in June 2025, is designed to entangle four trapped-ion processors at up to 99.7% fidelity. After a $60m Series A in December 2025, the company opened a trapped-ion networking lab in Cambridge in February 2026, with the NQCC and the University of Sussex among its collaborators. It also leads HyperIon, a Quantum Missions pilot project with Cisco and Sussex on its qubit-photon interface.
Founded in 2018, Nu Quantum is a company in Cambridge focused on quantum networking, communications and photonics. It is a partner in 4 UK projects, including IQN, Quantum Missions pilot and AIRQKD. Profiled here: Carmen Palacios-Berraquero (Founder and CEO).
Sources: Nu Quantum launches Quantum Networking Unit (Nu Quantum, June 2025) · Nu Quantum: news · Nu Quantum opens trapped-ion networking lab (Quantum Zeitgeist, February 2026) · UKRI: Quantum Missions pilot competition winners announced
IQN
A national research hub building quantum networks, from local links to satellite connections. Heriot-Watt University leads it.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Networks, Communications
Quantum Missions pilot
An Innovate UK competition that funded industry projects in quantum computing and quantum networks towards the UK quantum missions.
Role: Partner
Themes: Computing, Networks
A BT-led consortium testing free-space quantum key distribution for short and mid-range links, including 5G and connected vehicles.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
An Arqit-led consortium working on UK manufacture of quantum key distribution payloads for satellites.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Nu Quantum.
Nu Quantum proposes a new scaling path for quantum computers, mirroring how classical and AI systems connect processors.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Quantum networking is the business of moving quantum information between machines that sit in different places, and almost everything sold under that name today does one narrow job. It delivers encryption keys over optical fibre one photon at a time. Anyone listening in changes what arrives, and giv
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
The Quantum Datacenter Alliance Forum, October 1, 2026, will address scaling challenges with leaders like Quantinuum and Cisco.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Atom Computing & Nu Quantum will integrate neutral-atom computers with Nu Quantum’s dynamically reconfigurable photonic networking hardware, aiming.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Research, commercial and investment relationships, by year. Partners with a profile here are linked.
Atom Computing Integration 2026
Cisco Strategic 2026
Infineon Technologies Strategic 2026
NQCC Research 2026
Quantum Software Lab Research 2026
Recorded on Quantum Software Lab's profile.
University of Cambridge Research 2026
University of Sussex Research 2026
Amadeus Capital Partners Investment 2023
Recorded on Amadeus Capital Partners's profile.
National Security Strategic Investment Fund Investment
Recorded on National Security Strategic Investment Fund's profile.
Quantum network · Research only
Quantum network · Research only
Quantum network · Research only
Chosen by shared specialisms, then location and type.
Company · Bristol · 3 shared specialisms
Start-up · London · 3 shared specialisms
Company · Cambridge · 2 shared specialisms
Start-up · Cambridge · 2 shared specialisms
Company data from Entangled Future. News from Quantum Zeitgeist. Last checked 2 October 2026.
Logos and names are trademarks of their respective owners, used to identify them. No endorsement implied.
