Oxford Ionics is a quantum computing company founded in 2019 as a spinout from the University of Oxford. The firm was co-founded by Dr Chris Ballance and Dr Tom Harty, quantum physicists who hold world records in quantum breakthroughs. The company was acquired by IonQ in a deal valuing it at $1.075 billion, and operates from Oxford, UK, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.
The company specialises in trapped-ion quantum computing but uses a distinct method called Electronic Qubit Control. This approach manipulates qubits using electronics rather than lasers, which allows quantum operations to be integrated onto standard semiconductor chips produced in conventional fabrication facilities. Its technical domains span quantum computing, trapped-ion technology, and semiconductor chip integration.
Oxford Ionics reports holding world records in all three of quantum computing's key performance supermetrics: single-gate fidelity, two-qubit gate fidelity, and quantum state preparation and measurement.
