National Quantum Computing Centre

What National Quantum Computing Centre does

The National Quantum Computing Centre is the UK’s national lab for quantum computing, funded through UK Research and Innovation and sponsored by EPSRC and STFC. It works with businesses, government bodies and the research community to build UK quantum-computing capability, with activity concentrated around the Harwell Campus facility that opened in 2024. Its served segments include UK academic researchers, industry users in sectors such as aerospace, energy, healthcare and financial services, and government or defence stakeholders seeking sovereign quantum capability.

The centre’s operating model is infrastructure-led rather than commercial software-led. Its offerings include quantum-computing testbeds, the Quantum Software Lab, the SparQ programme for proof-of-concept projects, quantum-readiness support, an industry network and doctoral training. The testbed strategy brings together hardware and software developers to build, test and host quantum computers, including systems from Infleqtion, Oxford Ionics and Rigetti, and access initiatives such as the Google Quantum AI Willow processor programme.

NQCC does not show evidence of conventional commercial pricing or recurring customer revenue. The input describes it as a government-funded national research facility that provides access through grant-funded programmes, with support from the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy and related research funding mechanisms. Its go-to-market is therefore direct ecosystem engagement: grants, access programmes, hackathons, industry networks, training and collaboration with named enterprise, public-sector and academic partners.

Name

National Quantum Computing Centre

Legal name

National Quantum Computing Centre

Website

https://nqcc.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

National Quantum Computing Centre is the UK’s government-funded national lab for quantum computing, providing testbeds, software infrastructure, grants and readiness programmes to UK researchers, businesses and government bodies developing practical quantum-computing applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Quantum Computing Research Laboratory

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Education, Workforce Development & Academic Centers (HDAGAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Cloud Infrastructure & QPU Hosting (HDAGAIAA), Quantum Software Engineering & Toolchain Training (HDAGALAF), Quantum Open-Source Ecosystems, Package Managers & Interoperability Standards (HDAGACAO), QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals (HDAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Quantum computing research
• Quantum testbed access
• National research laboratory
• Quantum readiness programmes
• Quantum infrastructure development

Headquarters

HQ city

Didcot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), sponsored by EPSRC and STFC. Supported by UK Government's National Quantum Strategy with £2 billion investment.
2. Research Grants and Programs: Various grant programs including SparQ programme, STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept funding, and Doctoral Studentship Scheme.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The NQCC is the UK's national lab for quantum computing, providing organisations with access to quantum computing testbeds, grant-funded proof-of-concept projects through the SparQ programme, and a quantum software lab for application development. The centre collaborates with industry and the research community to build UK quantum computing infrastructure, explore practical applications, and support skills development, operating from its landmark facility opened on the Harwell Campus in 2024.

Product overview

The NQCC is the UK's national lab for quantum computing, offering a platform of interconnected programmes and infrastructure. The core offerings include the SparQ Programme for access to quantum computing through proof-of-concept funding, and Quantum Computing Testbeds providing access to various quantum hardware. Supporting modules include the Doctoral Studentship Scheme for workforce training, the Quantum Software Lab for software development, the Industry Network for ecosystem collaboration, and Quantum Readiness Services for organizational engagement. The centre operates from its landmark facility at Harwell Campus, opened in 2024, and works with businesses, government, and the research community to deliver quantum computing capabilities for the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SparQ Programme NQCC's flagship access and engagement programme providing funding and support for quantum computing proof-of-concept projects, enabling organisations to explore practical quantum use cases through collaborative business-led projects.
• Quantum Computing Testbeds NQCC's testing infrastructure providing access to multiple quantum computing hardware platforms including neutral-atom systems (Infleqtion Sqale), trapped-ion systems (Oxford Ionics QUARTET), and superconducting systems (Rigetti) for research and commercial use case development.
• NQCC Doctoral Studentship Scheme Training programme designed to train 30 PhD students over five years through cutting-edge collaborative quantum computing projects, building the UK's quantum workforce.
• Quantum Software Lab Infrastructure facility supporting quantum software development and applications research, situated within the NQCC's Harwell Campus.
• NQCC Industry Network Network established to foster collaboration across the UK quantum technology sector, connecting hardware and software providers, supply chain partners, and potential end-users through regular meetings.
• Quantum Readiness Services Engagement services helping organisations develop quantum readiness through skills development, resources, and expertise, enabling the emerging quantum community to develop use cases within their sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deployed UK's first operational 100-physical-qubit quantum computer
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Google Quantum AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Joint initiative providing UK researchers access to Google's Willow quantum processor. King's College London team led by Dr. Eleanor Crane awarded access to study quantum analogues of neurons and complex quantum dynamics. Initiative launched December 2025 to support high-impact scientific research toward useful quantum advantage.
• AegiqstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Consortium member for aerodynamic simulation work along with BAE Systems and NVIDIA. Aegiq is UK-based photonic quantum computing company developing integrated quantum photonics solutions.
• NVIDIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partner in consortium with Aegiq, BAE Systems, and NQCC for aerodynamic simulation work. NVIDIA providing GPU acceleration and AI capabilities for quantum-HPC integration.
• Fraunhofer Centre for Applied PhotonicsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partner in SuperSoC project - bilateral UK-Netherlands initiative funded via Innovate UK and Netherlands Enterprise Agency to develop miniaturized photonic integrated circuits for distributed quantum data centers.
• Single QuantumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partner in SuperSoC project for photonic integrated circuits development for distributed quantum data centers.
• MicroAlignstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partner in SuperSoC project for photonic integrated circuits development for distributed quantum data centers.
• MBDAstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026European defense consortium collaborating with NQCC on aerospace modeling and simulation applications.
• BAE SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Defense company participating in consortium with NQCC for aerodynamic simulation work with Aegiq and NVIDIA.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Research team led by Dr. Eleanor Crane awarded access to Google Willow processor through NQCC-Google joint initiative. Project investigating quantum analogues of neurons and complex quantum dynamics inspired by neural systems.
• Rigetti ComputingcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2026Deploying 36-qubit quantum computer at NQCC as part of consortium focused on quantum error correction and scalable superconducting systems. Committed up to $100 million UK investment to deploy 1,000+ qubit system within 3-4 years.
• ORCA ComputingstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Partner with JIJ Europe and bp on energy system planning optimization project using ORCA's photonic quantum computing system to improve the Unit Commitment problem for power grid operations.
• University of CambridgestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Established IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre at Ray Dolby Centre within Cavendish Laboratory. Deployment of IonQ's 256-qubit quantum computing system with focus on quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security capabilities.
• AirbusstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Part of consortium awarded NQCC SparQ Grant to advance optimization with quantum computing. Project focuses on aircraft cargo loading optimization using hybrid classical-quantum approaches for mixed-integer optimization problems.
• DNVstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Part of consortium with 4colors Research, Airbus, and ORCA Computing awarded NQCC SparQ Grant. Exploring quantum computing applications for aerospace logistics optimization.
• University of OxfordstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Partner in UK-Illinois Quantum Partnerships Mission with British Consulate Chicago, Imperial College London, and Illinois institutions to explore transatlantic quantum research and innovation collaboration.
• Imperial College LondonstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Partner in UK-Illinois Quantum Partnerships Mission to build quantum ecosystem connections and explore collaborative opportunities in quantum research and innovation.
• University of ChicagostrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Illinois partner in UK-Illinois Quantum Partnerships Mission bringing together UK institutions and Illinois delegates for quantum collaboration.
• InfleqtioncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2025Delivered UK's first operational 100-physical-qubit quantum computer to NQCC at Harwell. Built on Infleqtion's neutral-atom Sqale platform, marking first neutral-atom system of that scale at a national research facility. Deployment enables UK researchers to work with large-scale quantum computers.
• UK National Physical LaboratorystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Led four-year research collaboration funded by NQCC to develop comprehensive taxonomy of metrics and benchmarks for evaluating quantum computers across different manufacturers and hardware platforms.
• Oxford IonicscoreTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2025Delivered and installed QUARTET, a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer at NQCC's Harwell campus. Uses Oxford Ionics' proprietary Electronic Qubit Control technology with qubit control integrated onto standard semiconductor chips. System holds records for two-qubit gate fidelity, single-qubit gate fidelity, and quantum state preparation and measurement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pasqal: Neutral-atom quantum computing vendor with government and research-facility deployments in Europe. Closely comparable to Infleqtion (one of NQCC's core hardware partners) and represents the type of private vendor NQCC collaborates with and that competes for similar national-lab partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Argonne National Laboratory: US Department of Energy national laboratory with substantial quantum computing programmes, comparable in mission (sovereign R&D infrastructure, government-funded) and operating model to NQCC, though at significantly larger scale.
• Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC): German national computing centre integrating quantum accelerators into HPC infrastructure, comparable to NQCC's hybrid classical-quantum mission and its work with NVIDIA on quantum-HPC integration.
• Brookhaven National Laboratory: US DOE national laboratory with quantum information science programmes; comparable sovereign R&D infrastructure model and engagement with industry consortia for quantum applications research.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: US national laboratory hosting major quantum computing initiatives (e.g., IBM Q Network hub) and operating as government-funded applied research infrastructure — closely parallel to NQCC's national-lab mandate for quantum computing.
• IBM Quantum: Global quantum cloud and hardware incumbent operating its own quantum network of national-lab and university partners. Comparable to NQCC in mission of providing multi-user quantum access, though as a commercial vendor rather than a national facility.

Direct peers

• National Physical Laboratory (NPL): UK's national measurement institute and an active NQCC partner on the four-year quantum benchmarking taxonomy project. Operates as a UK sovereign metrology and standards body, complementing NQCC's applied mission.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Photonics: German applied research organization with photonics expertise that is a partner in NQCC's SuperSoC project. Operates a distributed national R&D model highly comparable to NQCC's role in the UK quantum ecosystem.
• RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing: Japanese government-backed national quantum computing research centre with similar mandate to advance quantum hardware and applications, providing testbed access to industry and academia — a direct functional peer to NQCC.

Regional players

• CSIRO Quantum: Australian national science agency quantum initiative — comparable national-facility model delivering quantum testbeds and industry engagement programmes, but operating in APAC rather than competing directly in the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user134041590
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nqcc
• Xx.com/nqcc_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Quantum Computing Centre