Rigetti and Oxford Instruments Announce Successful Completion of Innovate UK Project to Launch One of the First UK-Based Quantum Computers

LONDON and OXFORD, United Kingdom, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigetti UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) (“Rigetti” or the “Company”), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, and Oxford Instruments NanoScience, a leading provider of cryogenic systems, announce that their three-year project to build and operate one of the first quantum computers in the UK has been successfully completed. The consortium also included the Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh, Phasecraft, and Standard Chartered Bank. The goals of the Rigetti-led £10 million consortium were to accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing in the UK (1) through the delivery of a quantum computer in the UK, (2) by advancing practical applications in machine learning, materials simulation, and finance, and (3) furthering the development of the UK’s quantum computing talent, infrastructure, and national supply chain. The consortium was backed by funding from the UK government’s Quantum Technologies Challenge, led by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).

The 32-qubit Aspen-class quantum computer was Rigetti’s first system deployed in the UK and was made available over the cloud to the Company’s UK partners via Rigetti’s Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) cloud computing platform to pursue quantum application and algorithm development. The Quantum Software Lab worked to develop new ways of testing quantum hardware and verifying the performance of quantum programs, and worked with Standard Chartered Bank to advance quantum machine learning applications for finance. Phasecraft used its deep knowledge of quantum algorithms and high-efficiency quantum software to harness the system for near-term applications in materials design and simulation.

The system was hosted at Oxford Instruments’ Tubney Woods facility using Oxford Instruments’ ProteoxLX dilution refrigerator, and was supported by Oxford Instruments’ state-of-the-art infrastructure and expert cryogenics support. Smooth and seamless infrastructure was essential so that the consortium partners could run algorithms without interruption via QCS. Backup power and resilient cooling systems in highly controlled temperature and humidity environments guaranteed high uptime of the quantum system.