Oxford Instruments NanoScience

What Oxford Instruments NanoScience does

Oxford Instruments NanoScience (now operating as Quantum Design Oxford following the January 2026 acquisition by Quantum Design) designs and manufactures cryogenic research instrumentation and superconducting magnet systems used by quantum computing companies, research universities, and national laboratories. The company's core technology centers on Cryofree® dilution refrigerators — including the ProteoxLX, ProteoxS, ProteoxMX, and Proteox5mK — that deliver ultra-low temperature environments down to 5 millikelvin without requiring liquid cryogens, alongside high-field superconducting magnets (solenoid, split-pair, and vector configurations) and the TeslatronPT Plus open-architecture low-temperature measurement platform. These systems are supported by proprietary control software (DECS) and are used for quantum processor cooling, materials characterization, superconductivity research, and dark matter/cosmology experiments.

The business operates a direct enterprise sales motion selling high-value scientific hardware (quote-based pricing, configuration-dependent) supplemented by aftermarket services including legacy product support contracts, customer support packages, and a helium top-up service for the installed base. Customer segments are diversified across quantum computing companies (with Oxford Quantum Circuits' NY Quantum-AI Data Centre as a flagship deployment), academic and government research institutions (NUS Singapore, BRIN-Q Indonesia, University of Glasgow, FSU MagLab), and OEM technology integrators embedding superconducting magnets into their own instrumentation. The company maintains a global footprint spanning North America, Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia and employs 51–100 staff at its Abingdon, UK headquarters.

In January 2026, Quantum Design acquired the business from Oxford Instruments plc, supported by Carlson Private Capital Partners, combining two industry leaders with over 100 years of cumulative experience in cryogenics, materials characterization, and quantum information. The business now operates as Quantum Design Oxford, with the strategic intent of becoming a platform supplier across cryogenics, materials characterization, quantum information, and microscopy applications as quantum computing infrastructure scales commercially.

Name

Oxford Instruments NanoScience

Legal name

Oxford Instruments NanoScience

Website

https://nanoscience.oxinst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Oxford Instruments NanoScience (now Quantum Design Oxford) designs and manufactures Cryofree® dilution refrigerators and superconducting magnet systems that provide ultra-low temperature environments for quantum computing companies, research universities, and national laboratories worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Cryogenic Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Dilution Refrigerators & Ultra-Low Temperature Platforms (HDAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cryogenic Systems & Cryostats (HDAGABAA), Cryocoolers & Refrigeration Units (HDAGABAB)

Keywords

• Cryogenic dilution refrigerators
• Superconducting magnet systems
• Quantum computing equipment
• Low temperature measurement
• Nanotechnology research tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Abingdon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cryogenic Research Equipment Sales: Sale of cryogen-free dilution refrigerators, superconducting magnet systems, and related scientific instrumentation to research institutions, universities, national laboratories, and quantum computing companies
2. Aftermarket Services and Support: Legacy product support, customer support packages, and helium top-up services for installed base of cryogenic equipment

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Oxford Instruments NanoScience designs, manufactures, and supports Cryofree dilution refrigerators and superconducting magnet systems that provide ultra-low temperature and high magnetic field environments. These instruments are used by quantum computing companies, universities, and national laboratories for quantum technologies, nanotechnology research, advanced materials characterization, and nanodevice development.

Product overview

Oxford Instruments NanoScience designs, supplies, and supports market-leading research tools that enable quantum technologies, nanotechnology research, advanced materials, and nanodevice development. The core product portfolio centers on Cryofree dilution refrigerators (ProteoxLX, ProteoxS, ProteoxMX, Proteox5mK) that provide ultra-low temperature environments essential for quantum computing processors, combined with high-field superconducting magnet systems (TeslatronPT Plus) for materials characterization. These products are supported by control software and OEM magnet technologies. In January 2026, Oxford Instruments NanoScience was acquired by Quantum Design, uniting two industry leaders with over 100 years of combined experience in cryogenics, materials characterization, and quantum information. The acquisition expanded Quantum Design's position across cryogenics, materials characterization, quantum information, and microscopy applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ProteoxLX Cryofree dilution refrigerator designed for quantum computing scale-up, providing ultra-low temperature environments required for quantum processor operation. Featured in OQC's Quantum-AI Data Centre in New York.
• ProteoxS Compact Cryofree dilution refrigerator offering faster turnaround in a smaller footprint with no compromise on performance, designed for laboratory efficiency.
• ProteoxMX Modular Cryofree dilution refrigerator that delivers greater experimental capacity and adaptability for diverse research requirements.
• Proteox5mK World's coldest commercially available continuous operation Cryofree dilution unit, reaching temperatures down to 5 millikelvin.
• TeslatronPT Plus Open-architecture low temperature measurement system providing simple, flexible, and future-proof experimental capabilities for materials research, with precise temperature control from millikelvin to 30 K in high magnetic fields.
• Superconducting Magnets OEM superconducting magnet technologies including solenoid, split-pair, and vector magnets for high magnetic field applications, including 20-30 Tesla compact designs in development with FSU MagLab.
• Control Software (DECS) Control software for managing and operating cryogenic and magnetic measurement systems.
• Legacy Product Support Support service for legacy installed base of cryogenic and magnetic measurement systems.
• Customer Support Packages Customer support packages for installed cryogenic and measurement equipment.
• Helium Top-Up Service Helium top-up service supporting installed cryogenic systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• ProteoxLX selected for OQC's Quantum-AI Data Centre in New York for next-generation quantum processor support

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC)coreTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025Oxford Instruments NanoScience contributed its Cryofree® dilution refrigerator, the ProteoxLX, to OQC's newly launched Quantum-AI Data Centre in New York. The centre is designed for quantum computing and classical AI infrastructure to support next-generation quantum processors and accelerate quantum-enabled AI applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leiden Cryogenics: Leiden Cryogenics designs and produces dilution refrigerators and ultra-low temperature systems serving quantum technology, nanotechnology, and condensed-matter physics laboratories. It competes head-to-head with the Proteox product line in the academic and commercial quantum research market.
• Bluefors: Bluefors is the most direct competitor to Oxford Instruments NanoScience, manufacturing cryogen-free dilution refrigerators used in quantum computing and low-temperature physics research. Both companies supply millikelvin platforms to leading quantum computing firms and research institutions globally.
• Cryogenic Ltd: Cryogenic Ltd manufactures cryogenic equipment including superconducting magnet systems and cryostats used in physics, materials science, and quantum research. It is a peer in superconducting magnet technology comparable to Oxford Instruments' OEM magnet offerings.
• Janis Research (Lake Shore Cryotronics): Lake Shore Cryotronics, including the Janis Research cryogenics line, supplies cryostats, dilution refrigerators, and low-temperature measurement systems for quantum and materials research. Its product portfolio overlaps Oxford Instruments NanoScience's TeslatronPT Plus and other cryogenic platforms.
• attocube systems AG: attocube produces cryogenic positioning and low-temperature measurement systems for quantum and nanotechnology applications. The company competes in adjacent niches of the cryogenic research tooling market, particularly optical cryostat and nanopositioning systems.

Emerging players

• HPD (High Precision Devices): HPD designs and manufactures cryogenic systems and superconducting magnet platforms for quantum and physics research. It is an emerging competitor targeting similar quantum computing and academic customers as Oxford Instruments NanoScience.

Broad incumbents

• Quantum Design Inc. Quantum Design, now the parent of Oxford Instruments NanoScience, manufactures physical property measurement systems and cryogenic instruments for materials research. The combined entity competes across the quantum, materials, and low-temperature instrumentation markets.
• Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies: Bruker is a broad scientific instrumentation incumbent with a superconducting magnets and low-temperature technology division serving NMR, materials research, and quantum applications. It addresses overlapping customers with Oxford Instruments NanoScience via a much wider instrumentation portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nano-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oxford Instruments NanoScience