Five UK quantum companies are building a modular quantum computer testbed that can be reconfigured into eight different setups by swapping processors, control systems, and software stacks. This matters because quantum computing hardware is still fragmented—different companies build incompatible systems, making it hard to test components from multiple suppliers or upgrade individual parts. Today’s quantum computers are mostly vertically integrated, like early mainframes. This project aims to create an open, modular architecture, similar to how the PC ecosystem replaced monolithic computers. The testbed will let researchers and companies plug in components from different vendors and evaluate how they work together. If successful, the testbed could accelerate the development of practical quantum computers by allowing specialised UK suppliers to contribute individual components—trapped-ion processors, control electronics, error-correction software—without building entire systems themselves. The project also plans to publish an open specification for quantum software-hardware interfaces, which could become a common standard across the industry. Over time, this could lower costs and speed up quantum solutions for finance, energy, and healthcare. The immediate output is a flexible testing facility, not a commercial quantum computer—but it is a deliberate step toward building a competitive UK quantum supply chain.
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TreQ, Qruise, Q-CTRL, Oxford Ionics, and Rigetti are collaborating to create an open-architecture quantum computing testbed. This project unites industry leaders to develop a modular, extensible system for integrating and evaluating quantum components and processors across the supply chain, serving the global market from the UK. A key innovation of this project is its flexible design, offering 8 unique configurations by combining two quantum processors, two control systems, and two quantum software stacks. This capital-efficient approach maximises value by enabling extensibility and upgrades, ensuring this taxpayer investment supports long-term advancements in a rapidly evolving field. The testbed also strengthens the quantum supply chain by enabling collaboration among specialised component providers, especially those in the UK ecosystem. Just as classical computing evolved from fully vertically integrated systems to ecosystems of specialised suppliers, this project fosters a similar shift in the quantum computing landscape. TreQ, as a high-level manufacturer and quantum systems engineering company, is at the forefront of this evolution, driving innovation and creating skilled jobs in the UK. In addition to advancing hardware, the project will deliver an open specification for quantum workflows, creating a common interface between quantum software and hardware. This will enhance collaboration across the industry and accelerate the development of cost-effective solutions to address global challenges in finance, energy, and healthcare. This initiative represents a critical step toward realizing the full potential of quantum computing, fostering innovation, and strengthening the UK's leadership in quantum technologies.
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