Nu Quantum has announced the opening of a new trapped-ion networking laboratory in Cambridge, UK, marking the first dedicated industrial R&D facility for distributed trapped-ion quantum computing in Europe. The state-of-the-art facility doubles the company’s existing research infrastructure and serves as the primary testbed for its Entanglement Fabric roadmap. The lab is designed to prove the company’s Qubit-Photon Interface (QPI) technology with trapped-ion qubits, transitioning from theoretical modeling to in-house experimental validation of modular, multi-node quantum architectures.
The technical core of the new facility is the advancement of Nu Quantum’s QPI, which utilizes optical microcavity technology to enhance the interaction between stationary qubits and flying photons. These interfaces employ nanostructured mirrors with active stabilization—achieving cavity length control with a precision of <5 picometres—to ensure resonance with specific qubit wavelengths. By integrating these microcavities into custom-built ion traps, the system facilitates high-rate, high-fidelity entanglement links between discrete quantum processing units (QPUs). This hardware-agnostic approach is designed to interconnect clusters of commercial processors into a distributed fabric, aiming to exceed current state-of-the-art remote entanglement rates and fidelities.
The expansion follows Nu Quantum’s $60 million Series A funding round, the largest for a pure-play quantum networking company globally. The investment supports a growth phase focused on recruiting specialist Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics talent and expanding international operations. The laboratory integrates a specialized laser suite with wavelength stabilization developed in partnership with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). Collaborative efforts also involve the University of Sussex, Cisco, and Infineon Technologies, the latter serving as a foundry subcontractor for the fabrication of integrated photonic components.
Read the official announcement from Nu Quantum here.
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