Dominic O'Brien
Director, QCi3 Hub; Professor of Engineering, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Completed Hub
QCS: UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Computing and Simulation
The phase 2 national hub for quantum computing and simulation, led by the University of Oxford. It ran from 2019 to 2024.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
The Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub was one of four hubs in the second phase of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. The University of Oxford led a partnership of 17 universities. Professor Dominic O'Brien was principal investigator.
It followed the NQIT hub and worked on quantum computing hardware, simulation, software and applications. QCi3 succeeded it in December 2024.
Who leads it
Simon Benjamin
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Quantum Motion
Quantum Motion · University of Oxford
David Lucas Former
Former Principal Investigator, Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub (2019 to 2024); University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Lead organisation
University of Oxford
University · Oxford
Oxford leads the QCi3 quantum computing hub and is known for trapped-ion research and spin-outs such as Oxford Ionics and Quantum Motion.
Partners (36)
University of Bath
University · Bath
University of Bristol
University · Bristol
University of Cambridge
University · Cambridge
Cardiff University
University · Cardiff
Durham University
University · Durham
University of Edinburgh
University · Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University · Glasgow
Imperial College London
University · London
Royal Holloway, University of London
University · Egham
University of Sheffield
University · Sheffield
University of Southampton
University · Southampton
University of Strathclyde
University · Glasgow
University of Surrey
University · Guildford
University of Sussex
University · Brighton
University College London
University · London
University of Warwick
University · Coventry
Airbus
Company · Filton
BP
Company · London
BT Group
Company · London
Dstl
Research organisation · Porton Down
Element Six
Company · Didcot
Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics
Research organisation · Glasgow
Gooch & Housego
Company · Ilminster
GSK
Company · London
IQE
Company · Cardiff
Johnson Matthey
Company · London
M Squared Lasers
Company · Glasgow
National Cyber Security Centre
Government · London
NPL
Research organisation · Teddington
Oxford Instruments
Company · High Wycombe
Oxford Quantum Circuits
Company · Reading
QinetiQ
Company · Farnborough
Quantinuum
Company · Cambridge
Quantum Motion
Company · London
Rigetti UK
Company · London
Rolls-Royce
Company · London
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Funder · Swindon
UK Research and Innovation
Funder · Swindon
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles naming the lead organisation or partners. They may not be about this project.
Quantum leaps in fault-tolerance favor Quantinuum’s design, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
A new study shows Quantinuum’s Helios system achieved ~13x lower hardware error rates in tests critical for quantum error correction, and its flexible architecture supports more error-correcting code families.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Researchers Simulate 21-Spin Molecule on Trapped Ion Computer, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Could a quantum computer accurately predict the complex signature of a molecule previously beyond its reach? Now, using Quantinuum’s System Model H2 trapped-ion processor, scientists have simulated the liquid-state proton NMR spectrum of 1,2-di-tert-butyl-diphosphane at a two-qubit gate depth of 144
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Western Australia Team Hits 92·9% Fidelity in State Prep, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Efficient quantum state preparation on Quantinuum hardware Validating complex quantum states typically demands millions of measurements, hindering progress towards useful computation. Now, by implementing a pre-measurement basis change, scientists have compressed that process down to only one thousa
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Quantinuum trains 30 chemistry and quantum computing researchers, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Quantinuum trained 30 participants—including those from computational chemistry—in a five-day InQuanto Summer School, bridging expertise in quantum computing and chemical modeling.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- QCS Hub: Academic partners (qcshub.org)
- QCS Hub: Industry partners (qcshub.org)
- Gateway to Research: EP/T001062/1 (gtr.ukri.org)
- QCS Hub website (qcshub.org)
- University of Bristol: £94 million for quantum technologies research hubs (July 2019) (bristol.ac.uk)
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