Company · High Wycombe
Since the sale of its NanoScience cryogenics division to Quantum Design completed in January 2026, Oxford Instruments' quantum business has centred on plasma processing: atomic layer etch and deposition tools for making superconducting qubits. In May 2026 it agreed to supply a PlasmaPro 100 Cobra etch system to Rigetti's Fab-1 foundry in California. At home, its Plasma Technology unit is a partner in the Glasgow-led QEPNT navigation hub, and the group supplied the Proteox dilution refrigerator for the 2020 Rigetti consortium that installed a commercial quantum computer in Abingdon.
Oxford Instruments, based in High Wycombe, is a company whose work covers quantum infrastructure, cryogenics and hardware; it was founded in 1959. It is a partner in 7 UK projects, including EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies, QEPNT and QuPharma.
Sources: Quantum Design acquires Oxford NanoScience (The Quantum Insider, January 2026) · Oxford Instruments to supply atomic layer etch equipment to Rigetti Computing · Gateway to Research: QEPNT hub (EP/Z533178/1) project partners · Oxford Instruments: commercial quantum computer consortium
A doctoral training centre run by the universities of Sussex and Bristol to train PhD researchers in quantum technology.
Role: Partner
Funding: £24m
Themes: Skills and training, Computing
QEPNT
A national research hub for quantum position, navigation and timing, led by the University of Glasgow. It aims to reduce reliance on satellite signals such as GPS.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Timing and navigation, Sensing, Defence and security
QuPharma
A SEEQC-led consortium linking a quantum computer with a classical supercomputer to model drug properties.
Role: Partner
Themes: Computing, Biomedical and health
A sureCore-led consortium designing chip technology that works at the very low temperatures inside quantum computers.
Role: Partner
Funding: £6.5m
Themes: Computing, Materials and components
A Rigetti UK-led consortium that installed and ran a superconducting quantum computer in the UK and offered it over the cloud.
Role: Partner
Themes: Computing, Software and algorithms
QCS
The phase 2 national hub for quantum computing and simulation, led by the University of Oxford. It ran from 2019 to 2024.
Role: Partner
Funding: £27.3m
Themes: Computing, Software and algorithms
The phase 2 national hub for quantum sensors and clocks, led by the University of Birmingham. It ran from 2019 to 2024.
Role: Partner
Funding: £28.6m
Themes: Sensing, Timing and navigation
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Oxford Instruments.
Brothers Michael & Tyler Manfre accelerated their path to a master of science in quantum science and engineering via UD’s 3+2 program, completing bachelor’s at West Chester University.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Demand for cryogenic solutions is surging as quantum computers scale, driven by companies like Bluefors expanding millikelvin dilution refrigerator production.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Oxford Instruments enhances AZtecHKL EBSD software with human expertise and artificial intelligence, presenting the ultimate evolution of data acquisition software for Electron Backscatter Diffraction experiments. AZtecHKL leverages the technical knowledge of Oxford Instruments scientists in Tailore
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Quantum Design expands its quantum tech portfolio with the acquisition of Qnami, a leader in diamond-based quantum sensing.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Research, commercial and investment relationships, by year. Partners with a profile here are linked.
Rigetti Computing Commercial 2018
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Company data from Entangled Future. News from Quantum Zeitgeist. Last checked 2 October 2026.
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