Infleqtion has delivered the United Kingdom’s only operational 100-physical-qubit quantum computing system to the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to advance large-scale quantum computing infrastructure. The system, based on Infleqtion’s Sqale neutral-atom platform, was successfully deployed in December 2025 and represents a key objective outlined in the UK’s national quantum strategy.
The installation provides researchers and industry with access to a large-scale quantum system capable of supporting more complex experimentation, application development, and benchmarking efforts. The NQCC identified the development of a 100-qubit operational platform as a critical step toward transitioning quantum computing from laboratory research into practical use.
“This progress is a significant milestone, helping move the UK beyond research toward real-world uses,” said Patrick Vallance. “Advances like this are vital for paving the way to tangible benefits from quantum computers. With the talent and research expertise available in the UK, this represents an encouraging step that strengthens our position as a global leader in one of the defining technologies of our generation.”
Infleqtion’s Sqale system uses neutral-atom architecture, a quantum computing approach that manipulates arrays of atoms held in optical traps and controlled using laser systems. This architecture is increasingly viewed as a promising route toward scalable quantum hardware because of its ability to reconfigure qubit arrangements and maintain long coherence times.
According to Matthew Kinsella, the deployment demonstrates the company’s progress in developing practical quantum computing platforms. “The NQCC’s quantum computing testbed is among the first of its kind and is advancing innovation at a global level,” he said. “This latest achievement with Sqale reflects the progress and potential of our neutral-atom architecture and marks an important step toward larger-scale quantum systems.”
Reaching the 100-physical-qubit level moves quantum computing closer to systems capable of running more advanced algorithms and testing error-correction approaches. At this scale, researchers can begin exploring practical applications in areas such as materials science, energy systems, and complex optimisation problems.
The Sqale platform is also notable as the first neutral-atom quantum computing system of this scale deployed within an operational national research facility. Its installation forms part of the NQCC’s broader Quantum Computing Testbed Initiative, which is designed to provide researchers with access to emerging quantum hardware platforms and enable comparative evaluation across different technologies.
“With a system of this scale available through the NQCC, the UK quantum community can move beyond small demonstrations and begin understanding what it takes to operate and scale quantum computers in practice,” said Michael Cuthbert.
Beyond research experimentation, the platform is expected to play an important role in developing the UK’s quantum ecosystem. By allowing scientists and engineers to evaluate performance, benchmark algorithms, and test scalability, the system will help build technical skills, support supply-chain readiness, and accelerate the development of quantum applications across academia and industry.
For Infleqtion’s UK operations, the deployment also reflects a broader ambition to strengthen national capabilities in advanced computing technologies. Colin Sullivan described the milestone as an important moment for the company and the country’s quantum ambitions. “Achieving this goal has been central to the UK’s quantum efforts, and seeing it realised is something we are immensely proud of,” he said. “We look forward to expanding partnerships with researchers, businesses, and government to unlock the full potential of quantum technology.”
The deployment aligns with Infleqtion’s broader technology roadmap aimed at advancing toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. The company plans to surpass 30 logical qubits by 2026 and exceed 100 logical qubits by 2028. Logical qubits represent stable computational units created by encoding information across multiple physical qubits to correct errors inherent in quantum systems.
Because a single logical qubit may require anywhere from 10 to more than 1,000 physical qubits depending on hardware quality and error-correction techniques, improvements in physical-qubit performance remain critical. Infleqtion reports achieving a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.73 percent, a metric that reflects the accuracy of quantum operations and directly affects system scalability.
Neutral-atom systems are increasingly being explored as a pathway toward commercially viable quantum computing due to their scalability and strong coherence properties. Infleqtion has also demonstrated the technology in several operational environments beyond traditional laboratory settings.
These include pioneering quantum flight trials, materials science experiments using logical qubits, deployment of a quantum optical atomic clock on an underwater autonomous vehicle, development of the UK’s largest neutral-atom array, and collaboration on projects aimed at deploying a quantum gravity sensor in space.
