Sebastian Weidt, CEO of Universal Quantum, drives a VW Golf, a car known for its reliability and good judgment, but unlike someone whose 20-year-old Golf made a journey to Senegal, Weidt has been unable to traverse the Sahara in his, as he’s occupied with running a prominent UK deep-tech firm. Universal Quantum stands out in Britain’s tech landscape, based in Haywards Heath, Sussex, instead of the usual tech hubs like Oxford or Cambridge. From an ordinary trading estate, the company is crafting leading-edge quantum computing hardware. Weidt emphasizes the importance of Europe in quantum advances, supporting the need for European champions to lead on a global level.
The UK has emerged as a quantum technology leader, beginning with the 2013 National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) and its substantial £1 billion investment into quantum research and infrastructure. The momentum continues with the 2023 National Quantum Strategy, promising an additional £2.5 billion by 2033, with a mission to surpass classical computing by the mid-2030s. Quantum tech is pivotal for the UK’s critical infrastructure, potentially boosting GDP by £212 billion over two decades, provided they overcome modern engineering challenges.
Founded in 2018, Universal Quantum is a University of Sussex spinout led by Weidt and Winfried Hensinger, experts in trapped-ion quantum computing, known for its long coherence times. Their strategic edge is scaling, aiming to build fault-tolerant quantum computers with millions of error-corrected qubits, using the iQPU (integrated Quantum Processing Unit), a cost-effective large die with hundreds of qubits. Unlike traditional systems, it employs global microwave control, simplifying architecture and facilitates interconnecting through UQConnect, creating a highly scalable, modular system.
By employing a full-stack approach—designing chips and computing environments, including error correction and industry-specific application software—Universal Quantum maintains coherence between hardware and software. This synergy has attracted notable partnerships, such as with Rolls-Royce for aerospace engineering challenges.
Internationally, Universal Quantum’s innovative strategies earned a significant €67 million German Aerospace Center contract in 2023, while in the UK, it has secured various projects advancing national strategies. Operating globally with funding nearing £100 million, it remains anchored in Sussex, driving regional tech identity bolstered by the University of Sussex’s Centre for Quantum Technologies and its new quantum tech degree program.
Universal Quantum resides in a growing UK quantum ecosystem with other notable companies, benefiting from shared national resources like the National Quantum Computing Centre. However, as larger capital pools and regulatory avenues are available in the US and China, the UK must remain vigilant to retain its competitive edge.
Despite challenges such as demonstrating commercial-scale logical qubits, Universal Quantum parallels the ambitious UK quantum vision. With successful implementation of its plans, major milestones could be achieved by 2035. As Universal Quantum grows, it’s not just a promising startup but a key player in national strategy, driving quantum advancements from Sussex. Weidt’s commitment to Sussex symbolizes the potential for significant innovation from unexpected locales, defining a new era of UK tech leadership.