The visit showcased the company’s work in building modular, fault-tolerant quantum computers
Peter Kyle, UK science and technology secretary, visited Universal Quantum's (UQ) headquarters in Haywards Heath to see first-hand the company's pioneering work in building modular, fault-tolerant quantum computers designed to scale millions of qubits
The visit formed part of a broader conversation on sustaining the UK's momentum in quantum as other nations increase their investment.
During the visit, Universal Quantum CEO, Dr Sebastian Weidt, gave a tour of the Haywards Heath site, displaying the company's modular trapped-ion technology.
Weidt also spoke on what it would take for quantum technology to scale to the level of utility to be able to unlock economic impact to strengthen national security and drive long-term prosperity in the UK and beyond.
Kyle said, "The amazing work taking place at Universal Quantum is exactly the kind of regional innovation our Industrial Strategy is designed to support and encourage."
"The breakthroughs here are a powerful example of how world-class research can create the skills and jobs that improve lives across the country while securing our position as a global pioneer in quantum technologies for the long term."
Expanding global footprint
UQ's engineering-led approach has gained international traction, anchoring the UK as a growing global presence spanning Germany, Japan, Australia and the US. In Germany, the company is delivering a major €67m contract with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to develop next-generation ion-trap quantum computers.
Additionally, a multi-million euro partnership was recently announced with the Hamburg Innovation Bank and Hamburg University of Technology, developing scalable quantum software to support machines with 100,000 qubits.
In Japan, UQ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to accelerate the industrialisation of scalable trapped-ion quantum computing in partnership with Japan's quantum ecosystem.
The company's impact in Australia has continued to grow with increasing collaboration and funding from Australian partners, recognising the strategic value of UQ's large-scale trapped-ion systems.
A new era of quantum engineering
UQ's technology is built on a modular architecture where individual quantum processing units (QPUs) can be linked in an error-free manner at speed, managing to overcome one of the sector's most persistent scalability challenges. The architecture underpins a fault-tolerant design to ensure performance does not degrade as systems grow.
The company's growing portfolio of international projects, in combination with the leadership in the UK's National Quantum Strategy, positions it as one of the central players in defining the upcoming decade of quantum computing, where scale, reliability and accessibility determine real-world impact.
Weidt said: "Our mission is to build large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers that can deliver real-world impact. Delivering this world-changing technology requires political will, long-term funding, and world-class talent."
"We are already making significant strides toward creating a technology platform that leads to breakthroughs in fields such as drug discovery, climate modelling and national security.”
