Oxford Ionics Wins GBx 'Best in British Tech' Award

• Oxford Ionics took home the ‘Best in British Tech - Deep Tech Innovation’ award at Friday’s GBx Gala in San Francisco 

OXFORD, 4th November, 2024: Oxford Ionics, a world leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, today announced it has won the GBx Best in British Tech Award in the Deep Tech Innovation category. 

Presented by GBx, a curated network for British technology executives based in Silicon Valley, the Best in British Tech Awards are announced annually at the GREAT GBx Gala in San Francisco. Hosted by Carl Henderson, co-founder and CTO of Slack, the award recognises three innovative British technology companies at various stages of their journey – from upstarts to trailblazers. 

Dr. Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics, was presented with the award on Friday evening. Oxford Ionics was selected for the award as a result of its landmark year in 2024, marked by significant company growth, new customer wins, technical achievements, and R&D innovations. This includes selling quantum computers to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Germany’s Cyberagentur, as well as setting the world record the three most important metrics for quantum computing performance: single-gate fidelity, two-qubit gate fidelity, and quantum state preparation and measurement (SPAM). 

The power and performance of Oxford Ionics’ quantum computers is underpinned by its patented ‘Electronic Qubit Control’ technology, which uses electronics - not lasers - to control its qubits. With this technology, Oxford Ionics can integrate everything needed to trap and control its high-performing qubits onto a classical chip produced in a standard semiconductor factory. 

Mark Charkin, Executive Director of GBx, commented: “We are proud to recognise Oxford Ionics as one of the leading deeptech businesses coming out of the UK. In a historic year for Oxford Ionics, marked by several groundbreaking innovations, its team has pioneered a new approach to building powerful, robust, and scalable quantum computers. Oxford Ionics' innovative technology is taking us one step closer to unlocking the incredible commercial impact quantum computing is poised to deliver.”

Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics, commented: “From multiple flagship system sales to the NQCC and Cyberagentur to shattering world records in the three most important metrics of quantum performance, our achievements this year have redefined what’s possible for the industry. We are thrilled to be recognised for these efforts by GBx, and honoured to be part of a long and rich history of UK-based technology innovation.”

About Oxford Ionics

Oxford Ionics was co-founded in 2019 by Dr Tom Harty and Dr Chris Ballance who both hold world records in quantum breakthroughs. The team includes 60 global experts across physics, quantum architecture, engineering and software and expects to triple headcount over the next 18 months as the business scales internationally. Oxford Ionics has raised £37 million to date with investors including Braavos, OSE, Lansdowne Partners, Prosus Ventures, 2xN, and Hermann Hauser (founder of chip giant ARM). In 2024, Oxford Ionics rapidly commercialised its technology, selling full-stack quantum computers to the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Germany’s Cyberagentur. The company also holds the world records in the three most important metrics for quantum performance: single- and two-qubit gate fidelity and quantum state preparation and measurement (SPAM).

For more information, visit our website www.oxionics.com