Maryland’s quantum industry footprint is continuing to grow globally through a series of international business efforts in the United Kingdom.
Maryland-based IonQ has announced the acquisition of Oxford Ionics, a quantum technology manufacturer headquartered in the U.K. The business transaction, valued at more than $1 billion, will combine IonQ’s quantum computing and networking stack with Oxford Ionics’ advanced ion-trap technology built on standard semiconductor chips. The partnership aims to build fast, powerful, and reliable quantum computers, while accelerating innovation across fields like drug discovery, finance, chemistry, aerospace, and cybersecurity.
“We welcome the news that IonQ has made this significant acquisition, which reinforces Maryland’s position as a global hub for quantum technology research and development,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “This deal has the potential to accelerate important quantum breakthroughs, as well as create new job opportunities both in Maryland and in the U.K.”
This collaboration is the latest in a string of acquisitions by IonQ since the company first went public three years ago, including two acquisitions earlier this year. Both IonQ and Oxford Ionics are expected to benefit from each other’s complementary technologies and expertise, as well as tap into IonQ’s global reach and customer base. Oxford Ionics currently holds world records for accuracy in quantum operations which exponentially speed up computing power at an atomic level, and will lead to solving computational problems that are too complex, even for the world’s most powerful existing supercomputers.
Following a successful U.K. economic development mission, which included leading a delegation of Maryland companies to InfoSecurity Europe, Maryland Commerce joined with the University of Maryland to host a quantum roundtable at Oxford University. Understanding the global landscape of quantum technology and its impact on innovation and economic growth is key for Maryland’s quantum industry. The delegation explored potential collaborations and investment opportunities between the U.K. and the U.S., while showcasing the benefits of doing business in Maryland, particularly within the Discovery District, which is at the heart of Maryland’s “Capital of Quantum” initiative.
During the roundtable, participating stakeholders delivered brief presentations to share insights into the strategies, capabilities, and approaches of U.K. quantum companies and organizations. Strong support from state and global leadership underscores Maryland’s commitment to advancing quantum innovation and fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and government. The delegation included several U.K. quantum companies such as Oxford Ionics, QCi3 Hub, Quantum Dice, Oxford Quantum Circuits, and Athenian Tech.
*Activities related to InfoSec are funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration and in accordance with Section 632 of Public Law 117-328, Maryland’s total STEP program cost is $733,333 of which 75% is Federal Share of $550,000 and Non-Federal Share of $183,333.
