GOTT Funds NPL Project to Scale Trapped-Ion Quantum Technology

Introduction

The UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has secured funding from the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in quantum computing: manufacturing scalability. The project will focus on creating a batch‑packaging process for ion‑trap devices, a key step toward reliable, high‑volume production of trapped‑ion quantum processors and the networked architectures they enable.

Why trapped‑ion technology matters

Trapped‑ion quantum computers use individual ions suspended in electromagnetic fields as qubits. Compared with other platforms, they offer exceptionally high fidelity and long coherence times, making them attractive for both quantum‑computing and quantum‑networking applications. NPL’s micro‑fabricated, chip‑scale ion traps have already been deployed in its own labs and at the University of Oxford, demonstrating the feasibility of a scalable architecture.

The manufacturing bottleneck

While trapped‑ion systems excel in performance, scaling them from single‑node prototypes to large‑scale quantum processors has been hampered by manufacturing constraints. Current fabrication workflows rely on bespoke, hand‑assembled steps that limit yield and drive up cost. The GOTT‑funded effort targets the final stages of device fabrication, introducing a batch‑packaging line that can process many ion‑trap chips in parallel. By standardising these steps, NPL aims to improve yield, reduce variability, and create a repeatable supply chain for quantum hardware.

Project goals and expected impact

• Batch packaging development – Design and qualify a production‑ready packaging flow that integrates ion‑trap chips with control electronics and vacuum packaging.
• Yield optimisation – Identify and mitigate failure modes that currently restrict large‑scale manufacturing, thereby increasing the proportion of functional devices per batch.
• Network‑ready hardware – Produce ion‑trap modules that can be readily linked into larger quantum networks, supporting the move from isolated quantum processors to distributed quantum computing architectures.
• Ecosystem collaboration – Strengthen ties between NPL, the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), academic partners, and industry, fostering a UK‑wide quantum supply chain.

Successful delivery of these objectives will bridge the gap between laboratory‑scale demonstrations and deployable quantum systems. Scalable ion‑trap production is expected to accelerate research in quantum algorithms, enable more complex simulations, and lay the groundwork for commercial quantum services that require interconnected quantum nodes.

Looking ahead

The GOTT initiative reflects a broader policy push to translate public‑sector research into economic value. By focusing on manufacturability, NPL is positioning the UK to maintain leadership in a technology area that is strategically important worldwide. As batch packaging matures, the quantum community can anticipate a steady flow of reliable ion‑trap hardware, reducing reliance on bespoke, low‑volume builds and opening the door to larger, more ambitious quantum experiments.

--- This article is based on the press release announcing GOTT funding for NPL’s trapped‑ion scalability project and related public statements.