Oxford Quantum Circuits raises £38 million Series A to accelerate R&D and expand into APAC
5.7.2022 08:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), Europe’s leading quantum computing company, today announced raising £38 million (US $46.45 million) in the first close of an on-going Series A. The investment is the UK’s largest ever Series A in quantum computing and will accelerate research and development and fuel expansion in Asia-Pacific. The round was co-led by Lansdowne Partners, one of Europe’s leading investment firms, and The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), Japan’s largest deeptech VC fund. British Patient Capital and existing investors Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and Oxford Investment Consultants (OIC) also participated.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220704005233/en/
Deployment of OQC's 8 qubits processor Lucy by two quantum engineers. (c) Oxford Quantum Circuits
OQC’s patented 3D architecture, the Coaxmon, combines unparalleled scalability with world-class performance. This funding follows the February 2022 launch of OQC’s latest system, Lucy, on Amazon Braket - making it the first European quantum company on AWS. The company’s technology can be used by businesses in financial services, pharma and logistics to increase their competitive edge.
This Series A investment will be used to further scale the company’s quantum systems and its private quantum computing as-a-service offering. It will also consolidate OQC’s position in Europe and accelerate international expansion in Asia-Pacific, including the Japanese market - a hotspot for financial services eager to realise the advantages of quantum computing.
Quantum computing has the potential to shape our future and improve people’s lives and has long been recognised as a matter of strategic national importance. British Patient Capital’s investment in the round is part of its wider ambition to cement the UK’s position as a science and technology superpower.
Lenny Chin, Principal at UTEC, said “Quantum computing promises to be the next frontier of innovation, and OQC, with its state-of-the-art Coaxmon technology, aims to integrate the forefront of modern physics into our everyday lives. UTEC is honoured to be part of OQC’s mission of making quantum technology accessible to all and will support OQC’s expansion into Asia-Pacific through collaborations with academia including the University of Tokyo, and partnerships with Japan’s leading financial and tech corporations.”
Peter Davies, Partner & Head of Developed Markets Strategy at Lansdowne Partners, said “Since launching the UK’s first commercially-available quantum computer, we have continued to be highly impressed with both the technical developments and also the future ambitions of OQC. We are very excited to be investing in this innovative and forward-thinking company.”
Judith Hartley, CEO, British Patient Capital said “The UK has long been at the forefront of global technology developments. Our investment in Oxford Quantum Circuits exemplifies our continued commitment to ensuring the UK stays at the forefront of deeptech innovation. The sphere of quantum computing is a vital link in the chain of technological, scientific, and business advancement, from breakthroughs to better business modelling across the board. We are excited to help fund OQC’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific regions, allowing this new frontier in technology to develop even further through exposure to the global market.”
Ilana Wisby, CEO of OQC, said “This initial close is the UK’s largest ever Series A in quantum computing, demonstrating the confidence our investors have in our ability to lead the global quantum industry. It’s testament to the significant technological and commercial progress we have achieved in recent months, thanks to our world-class team. It is also the first step in our international expansion, bringing quantum to our customers’ fingertips – wherever they are in the world.”
Editors’ Notes
About OQC: OQC is Europe’s leading quantum computing company. We bring quantum to our customers’ fingertips and enable them to make breakthrough discoveries. Our quantum computers are available via private cloud and on Amazon Braket.
About Lansdowne: Lansdowne Partners is a European headquartered investment manager operating a diversified range of actively managed equity strategies.
www.lansdownepartners.com/london
About UTEC: The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, Inc. is the largest venture capital fund focused on science and technology in Japan, and one of the largest deep tech funds in Asia. UTEC has invested in over 140 Japanese and Global startups with a track record of 17 IPOs & 14 M&As.
About BPC: British Patient Capital is the trading name of British Patient Capital Limited, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc, the UK government’s economic development bank. Launched in June 2018, British Patient Capital has £2.5bn to invest over 10 years in venture and venture growth capital to support high growth potential innovative UK businesses.
www.britishpatientcapital.co.uk
About OSE: Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) is a Science Business Builder, committed to helping solve the world’s toughest problems for more people, in more places, faster. The company does this by transforming world-leading science into world-changing businesses, partnering the best scientists from the world’s best university with the best business brains.
www.oxfordscienceenterprises.com
About OIC: Oxford Investment Consultants backs extraordinary founders turning scientific research into products addressing the world’s greatest challenges. The OIC team has decades of investment experience, partnering with transformative biotech, healthcare and deeptech companies from Oxford University and other world-leading UK research institutions.
www.oxfordinvestmentconsultants.com
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220704005233/en/
Contact information
Kaya Cheshire
ThoughtLDR Ltd.
kaya@thoughtldr.com
+44 7464 338017
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
China's ~$900B Live-Commerce Market Now Approaches US E-Commerce Scale17.7.2026 13:30:00 EEST | Press release
The center of gravity in global retail has shifted East. The formats now driving the fastest growth in global retail (live shopping, social commerce, and delivery in minutes) were pioneered and scaled in Asia, and most Western consumers have yet to adopt them. According to NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a leading consumer intelligence company, in its global report The Commerce Revolution: Where East Meets West, the gap between East and West is still vast. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260717253489/en/ China´s USD 900bn live shopping boom now approaches the scale of the US E-commerce The scale is already substantial. China's live-commerce market alone was worth roughly $900 billion in 2025, approaching the size of the entire US e-commerce market, according to market data cited in the report. Yet 68% of consumers in North America and 67% in Europe have never once bought a product through social media, and roughly two-thirds
Aqemia and Sanofi Expand Their Research Collaboration17.7.2026 13:30:00 EEST | Press release
Aqemia, the drug invention company combining generative AI and quantum-inspired physics to invent small molecule drugs, today announced the expansion of its multi-year research collaboration with the global pharmaceutical company, Sanofi. The expansion is marked by the nomination of a new therapeutic target and an additional payment. The collaboration, first announced in December 2023, makes Aqemia eligible to receive up to a total of $140 million in upfront and milestone payments across programs. It spans the drug discovery journey from the identification of the very first hits to the selection of a development candidate. Aqemia leverages Qemi, its proprietary physics-based generative AI platform, to design novel molecules addressing Sanofi’s targets of choice, working in close collaboration with Sanofi scientific teams. Sanofi leads wet lab research, development and commercialization. The collaboration now runs across continents, between Aqemia researchers in Paris and London and San
Ant International’s Alipay+ Connects Argentina's National QR Payment Scheme via PVS, Enabling for Cross-Border Digital Payment Nationwide at Millions of Merchants17.7.2026 13:17:00 EEST | Press release
Alipay+, a global digital payment gateway under Ant International, today announced that it will enable global travellers to make QR code payments at millions of merchants across Argentina through integration with the country's national QR payment scheme Transferencias 3.0, in partnership with PVS, a fintech company specialized in developing customized payment solutions in Latin America. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260717276406/en/ By connecting to Argentina's national QR payment scheme, Alipay+ now enables global travellers in the country to make convenient QR code payments at merchants nationwide. This service helps to enhance global travellers' travel experiences in Argentina, allowing them to pay seamlessly at restaurants, malls and tourist attractions. Using an Alipay+ partner payment app, they can now scan the national QR code displayed at all merchants to make cross-border payments across Argentina,
KATE Launches "KABUKE: Break Convention" Kabuki-Inspired International Campaign17.7.2026 10:00:00 EEST | Press release
Global cosmetics brand KATE launched “KABUKE: Break Convention,” a new international campaign drawing on elements of Kabuki, the traditional Japanese performing art. The campaign debuted on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. In this campaign, KATE’s shadow enhancing makeup—rooted in Japanese aesthetics—was paired with the Kabuki spirit inherited from traditional Kabuki theater to communicate the value of individuality and self‑expression through makeup on a global scale. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260708829427/en/ KATE international campaign “KABUKE: Break Convention” key visual. Dedicated website: https://www.kate-global.net/my/special/kate_kabuki/ Since its founding, KATE has championed the slogan “NO MORE RULES.,” offering makeup that defies convention and empowers individuals to express their identity and bring out confidence. At the heart of this vision is the brand’s signature shadow enhancing makeup approach
Yoshihiro Shimamura Joins the Marché du Film’s “Investors Circle 2026” as an Invited Investor, Backing a New Feature Film17.7.2026 04:00:00 EEST | Press release
Shimamura Yoshihiro Film Production Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director: Yoshihiro Shimamura), a company active in film production and investment, today announced that Representative Director Yoshihiro Shimamura has decided to invest in an international feature film after being invited to the “Investors Circle 2026” — a distinction that reflects his standing as one of the field’s most highly regarded producers and investors. Hosted by the Marché du Film, the business arm of the Festival de Cannes and one of the world’s largest film markets, the Investors Circle is an invitation-only summit that connects a select group of private investors with high-end feature films during early-stage financing. Held in Cannes, France, May 16-17, 2026, it brings internationally acclaimed directors and producers together with investors around a curated slate of projects in development. During the summit, Shimamura attended private pitching sessions and, after individual meeting
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom