By Dr Sebastian Weidt – CEO, Universal Quantum
At Universal Quantum, we have always believed that solving the world’s toughest challenges will take more than just brilliant technology. It will require collaboration across countries, industries and disciplines. Quantum computing has the potential to transform fields such as healthcare, energy and materials science, but reaching that future is not something any one country or company can achieve alone.
That is why we built Universal Quantum to be international from the very beginning. Our team is based in the UK, Germany and the US; working alongside partners across Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia. Securing the backing of Main Sequence, one of Australia’s leading deep tech investors, marks another important step. It is more than just new support. It reflects a shared belief that building practical, scalable quantum computers demands a collective, global effort.
We have always taken a long-term view. Our goal is to build a million-qubit machine, and we have been honest that it will not happen overnight. It will be achieved through deliberate engineering, layer by layer, milestone by milestone. As an example, just earlier this year, we signed an agreement with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to work together on developing scalable quantum computing subsystems. Japan’s leadership in precision engineering and manufacturing is vital to the future of the field, and their involvement strengthens the broader ecosystem we are building. Our commitment to building a truly global quantum effort is also reflected in our work with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where we are delivering advanced trapped-ion quantum computing systems as part of one of Europe’s most ambitious national quantum programmes. Collaborations like these are critical not only for advancing the technology itself, but for strengthening the international networks that will underpin the future quantum economy.
Our progress has not only been about partnerships. It is also about technical results. In July 2024, we developed the first commercial ASIC chip for our ion-trap quantum processors, a critical step towards scaling quantum computers in a reliable, manufacturable way. These kinds of advances are hard-won, but they are the foundation of everything to come. Next, we will be delivering our iQPU solution - a truly scalable platform that combines our advanced ion-trap chip architecture with integrated control electronics and UQConnect, our technology for seamlessly linking iQPUs together to enable large-scale quantum computing.
The iQPU is a testament to our commitment to translating years of research and development into a scalable, manufacturable system that lays the groundwork for our long-term ambition. It is a major milestone not just for Universal Quantum, but for the broader vision of making large-scale quantum computing a reality.
In a world that often feels increasingly divided, we are proud to be building a company that believes in the opposite. A global project, grounded in trust, expertise and shared ambition. It is not the easy path, but we believe it is the only one that will deliver the systems the world will rely on in the decades ahead.
Quantum computing will change the world. Ensuring it is built for the world is a challenge we are embracing at Universal Quantum.
