QUARTET trapped-ion testbed (Oxford Ionics)
A trapped-ion quantum computing testbed built for the National Quantum Computing Centre under its 2024 testbed programme.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
Oxford Ionics built a trapped-ion testbed called QUARTET, based on technology first developed at the University of Oxford. The NQCC reports that QUARTET was installed in its Harwell data centre.
Oxford Ionics was bought by the US company IonQ in September 2025.
Who leads it
Lead organisation
Oxford Ionics
Company · Oxford
Oxford trapped-ion quantum computer maker, owned by IonQ since September 2025, whose QUARTET system runs at the National Quantum Computing Centre.
Partners (1)
NQCC
Research organisation · Harwell
Funders
UK Research and Innovation
Funder · Swindon
-
NQCC
Research organisation · Harwell
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles about QUARTET, then ones naming its lead or partners.
Oxford Ionics Installs Quantum Computer at UK’s NQCC, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Oxford Ionics delivers QUARTET, a state-of-the-art quantum computer, to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. Tom Harty and Dr. Chris Ballance, co-founders of Oxford Ionics, achieved world-record performance in single-qubit gate fidelity, two-qubit gate fidelity, and SPAM. This installation ad
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
A recap of the Quantum Software Lab’s Quantum Fringe in Edinburgh, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh has become a globally recognized hub for creating software solutions, and with its strategic partnership with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), now has more than 70 researchers. In three years, the QSL is poised to lead a
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Quantum Zeitgeist weekly digest, 21 September 2026, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
IBM’s $2 billion investment, split between direct funding and a new venture called Anderon, signals a decisive shift in the quantum computing landscape, from chasing qubit counts to securing a domestic supply chain for advanced wafer manufacturing. This move directly addresses a bottleneck seen in m
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
IonQ gains control of chip supply with SkyWater foundry deal, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
At the Investor Day 2026, IonQ detailed plans for growth, anticipating $450M–$460M in revenue & highlighting vertical integration and mass-manufacturing capabilities.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- NQCC: Science Minister announces the results of the £30m quantum computing testbed competition (nqcc.ac.uk)
- NQCC: Quantum computing testbeds (nqcc.ac.uk)
- Quantum Zeitgeist: Oxford Ionics installs quantum computer at UK's NQCC (quantumzeitgeist.com)
- IonQ: IonQ completes acquisition of Oxford Ionics (ionq.com)
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