UK-US Forge Alliance to Accelerate Quantum Advantage Across Global Industries
Landmark pact accelerates quantum computing rollout to disrupt healthcare, finance and defence
The UK and US have sealed a groundbreaking technology alliance to fast-track quantum computing, aiming to reshape sectors from drug discovery to cybersecurity. Announced during US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, the pact positions quantum as the spearhead of a more expansive transatlantic “Tech Prosperity Deal.”
The deal mobilises top scientists, industrial players, and billions in investment to bring quantum systems out of labs and into real-world use. Officials say the initiative will slash development timelines, create high-skilled jobs, and secure both nations’ technological edge.
The announcement has already sparked major business moves from leading quantum players. Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has teamed with Nvidia and Digital Realty to launch a Quantum-AI Data Centre in New York, combining OQC’s Genesis quantum computer with Nvidia’s CUDA-Q technology and Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips to deliver hybrid quantum-classical workloads at scale.
The GH200 chips are designed with high-bandwidth memory and tight CPU-GPU integration, enabling ultra-fast data throughput and low-latency performance—capabilities critical for running AI-driven quantum simulations and real-time optimisation tasks. Their inclusion signals a shift towards converged systems purpose-built for complex hybrid workloads.
Meanwhile, US-based IonQ revealed on September 17 that it had completed its $1 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics, establishing an EMEA headquarters and R&D hub in Oxford. Nvidia is also rolling out 120,000 of its Blackwell Ultra GPUs in the UK, laying the groundwork for hybrid quantum-AI infrastructures that will power commercial applications in healthcare, finance, and defence.
“We are at the big bang of intelligence, and the United Kingdom’s Goldilocks ecosystem of world-class expertise, outstanding universities, and vibrant industries is uniquely positioned to thrive in the age of AI,” said Nvidia founder and chief executive Jensen Huang. “With AI supercomputers powering state-of-the-art models locally, a new generation of U.K. researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs will drive discovery and build the companies of tomorrow.”
Britain’s Quantum Power Play
Showcasing this convergence, OQC recently installed New York City’s first quantum computer as part of its collaboration with Nvidia and Digital Realty.
“This Quantum-AI Data Centre demonstrates how quantum can drive the AI revolution – securely, practically, and at scale – while strengthening the UK–US technology alliance,” said Gerald Mullally, CEO of OQC. “Leveraging Digital Realty’s infrastructure and Nvidia supercomputing, we are redefining enterprise computing for finance and security.”
“Digital Realty’s mission has always been to enable the world’s most innovative technologies by providing secure, interconnected infrastructure at a global scale,” said Andy Power, President & CEO of Digital Realty. “By working with OQC, we’re using Nvidia supercomputing to make Quantum-AI directly accessible in one of the world’s most important data hubs – empowering enterprises and governments to unlock new levels of performance and resilience.”
OQC’s work with Nvidia and Digital Realty signals how Britain’s quantum pioneers are positioning themselves within global supply chains.
By hosting its quantum systems within data centres that also run AI supercomputing workloads powered by GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, OQC is building a model for co-located quantum and AI infrastructure. This approach is expected to be critical for accelerating hybrid applications, such as AI-driven quantum chemistry simulations and real-time optimisation for logistics networks.
Nvidia is also supporting projects at UK universities to strengthen the pipeline of quantum innovation.
The University of Edinburgh is developing GPU-accelerated quantum error-correction software, while the University of Oxford is using AI to control quantum hardware. SEEQC, in collaboration with the National Quantum Computing Centre, is integrating quantum processors with Nvidia-accelerated decoders to tackle error correction—a persistent bottleneck in scaling quantum computers.
A Transatlantic Quantum Taskforce
The UK-US quantum accord will be operationalised through a dedicated transatlantic task force composed of top researchers from national laboratories, universities, and industry.
This body will coordinate joint research schemes, promote best practices in quantum error correction and system integration, and sponsor an exchange programme to accelerate technology adoption in defence, healthcare, finance, and energy. British and American officials envisage this collaborative framework as a catalyst for shortening the timeline to commercially viable quantum systems.
The taskforce will also set out standards for interoperability, intellectual property protection, and cyber-resilience, ensuring that early commercial quantum systems meet stringent security and governance requirements. This is expected to reduce the risks of fragmented regulatory regimes emerging as more countries compete in the race for quantum supremacy.
Industry leaders argue that harmonised UK-US standards could help accelerate procurement cycles, giving developers the confidence to scale production. By offering predictable market conditions, London and Washington aim to attract private capital to invest more quickly in large-scale quantum infrastructure projects.
Building a Quantum Workforce
The quantum push is emerging in parallel with massive US investment in UK digital infrastructure, much of it spearheaded by Nvidia. The chipmaker is orchestrating the largest GPU rollout in UK history, deploying up to 120,000 of its Blackwell Ultra processors in partnership with Nscale, CoreWeave, and others.
This infrastructure will underpin national AI factories, including the “Stargate UK” project with OpenAI, and is expected to inject more than £11 billion into the British economy.
Within this broader context, Nvidia is positioning quantum as a natural extension of its AI footprint. The company is backing a series of UK-based initiatives ranging from hybrid quantum-deep neural networks to GPU-accelerated quantum error correction research at the University of Edinburgh. The University of Oxford is deploying AI to control quantum hardware, while SEEQC and the National Quantum Computing Centre are integrating quantum processors with Nvidia-accelerated decoders. Collectively, these efforts aim to cultivate a full-spectrum quantum innovation ecosystem anchored in the UK.
As quantum systems move from laboratories into commercial settings, British policymakers are eager to ensure the domestic workforce is prepared. Alongside its industrial partnerships, Nvidia is collaborating with trade body techUK and training provider QA to deliver specialised quantum-AI courses via the Nvidia Deep Learning Institute. These will be offered through the DGX Cloud platform, providing hands-on access to high-performance computing resources.
The UK government hopes this will cultivate a talent pipeline of quantum-literate engineers, developers, and data scientists.
In parallel, IonQ’s Oxford base is expected to facilitate collaboration with leading universities and public-sector partners, embedding industrial research opportunities within Britain’s academic network. This cross-pollination is intended to accelerate breakthroughs while anchoring high-value quantum jobs in the UK.
IonQ Stakes a Claim
IonQ’s chairman and chief executive Niccolo de Masi hailed the Oxford Ionics acquisition as a “pivotal step” in the company’s quest for quantum advantage.
“Oxford Ionics’ talented team and intellectual property strengthen our technology and accelerate our roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing and broad quantum advantage,” he stated.
The integration will merge Oxford Ionics’ patented trapped-ion architectures—fabricated using standard semiconductor processes—with IonQ’s software stack, yielding a unified platform for scalable, high-fidelity quantum systems.
Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and chief executive of Oxford Ionics, said the combined entity will “continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to deliver practical quantum solutions to real-world challenges.”
He stressed that their shared vision goes beyond commercial impact, aiming ultimately to be “transformative for society in the long term.”
IonQ intends to use its Oxford base to deepen collaboration with UK universities, public-sector organisations, and private industry. Executives see the new facility as a springboard for exporting quantum hardware and services to European and Middle Eastern markets. IonQ has also indicated plans to expand its R&D workforce in the UK significantly over the next three years, anchoring more of its global value chain in the country.
The company’s decision aligns with the UK government’s ambition to establish the country as a global hub for quantum exports. Officials expect that hosting an IonQ manufacturing hub will help Britain capture more of the economic value associated with next-generation quantum hardware, which is forecast to underpin trillions of dollars in market activity by the mid-2030s.
Shaping a Shared Future
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the UK-US tech pact as “a generational step change in our relationship with the US,” asserting that “by teaming-up with world-class companies from both the UK and US, we’re laying the foundations for a future where together we are world leaders in the technology of tomorrow, creating highly skilled jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall underscored the broader socio-economic stakes, declaring that the partnership “will deliver good jobs, life-saving treatments and faster medical breakthroughs for the British people.”
Through the combined strength of national labs, the genius of British and American scientists, and the agility of leading companies, officials on both sides of the Atlantic believe they can deliver unmatched innovation—and secure their nations’ prosperity and security well into the quantum era.