• Quantum Computing Business, Ukquantum
• Cierra Choucair
• March 14, 2025

Insider Brief:

• Oxford Instruments NanoScience, Oxford Quantum Circuits, and Quantum Machines are launching the Architect platform: an open-architecture quantum computing system that integrates OQC’s Lucy Gen2 processor, Quantum Machines’ OPX1000 controller, and Oxford Instruments’ ProteoxMX dilution refrigerator.
• The platform addresses key barriers in quantum computing by providing hands-on access to real hardware, allowing users to modify, upgrade, and interact with every layer of the quantum stack for skills development and research.
• Each component has been independently validated, with OQC’s Lucy Gen2 processor demonstrating 98% uptime in cloud operations, Quantum Machines’ OPX1000 proving rapid deployment at the University of Glasgow, and ProteoxMX ensuring optimal cryogenic performance.
• Architect will debut with live demonstrations at APS Global Physics Summit 2025, with sessions at Quantum Machines’ booth (#213) and Oxford Instruments’ booth (#515).

PRESS RELEASE — In a recent post, Oxford Instruments NanoScience, Oxford Quantum Circuits, and Quantum Machines announced the launch of the Architect platform, a new educational and development-focused quantum computing system designed to provide hands-on access to real quantum hardware. According to the company announcement, the system integrates OQC’s 8-qubit Lucy Gen2 quantum processor, Quantum Machines’ OPX1000 quantum control platform, and Oxford Instruments’ ProteoxMX dilution refrigerator into a flexible, open-architecture quantum computing stack.

The Architect platform will debut with a live demonstration at the APS Global Physics Summit 2025, with demonstrations scheduled at Quantum Machines’ booth (#213) and Oxford Instruments’ booth (#515).

Addressing Challenges in Quantum Computing Development

The collaboration is intended as a solution to two of the most notable barriers in quantum computing: skills development and access to real hardware. While quantum computing platforms have traditionally been accessible through cloud-based services, hands-on experience with hardware remains limited. Architect is designed to enable users to interact with every layer of the quantum stack, from cryogenics and control electronics to qubit characterization and circuit execution.

“There is an appetite in the industry for an open-architecture quantum computer platform dedicated to enhancing hardware understanding, application development, and hands-on training,” the release states. Architect provides a fully configurable system that allows users to modify and upgrade individual components, offering an alternative to closed-platform solutions.

Technical Integration and Validation

Each component in the Architect system has been validated through independent deployments. OQC’s Lucy Gen2 processor, which employs the Coaxmon architecture, has been operating on OQC’s cloud service for over two years, achieving 98% uptime in 2023. Unlike traditional superconducting qubit designs, the Coaxmon architecture uses a 3D structure that simplifies scaling while maintaining high-fidelity control.

The OPX1000 quantum control system, developed by Quantum Machines, has previously demonstrated high compatibility with Oxford Instruments’ cryogenic platforms. The system was deployed at the QMaaS lab at the University of Glasgow, where it transitioned from unboxing to experimental results in record time. OPX1000 enables real-time qubit control and readout, providing automated pulse sequences for precise gate execution.

Oxford Instruments’ ProteoxMX dilution refrigerator, the system’s cryogenic platform, provides the ultra-low temperatures required for superconducting qubits. As noted in the release, the ProteoxMX system has been integrated with OQC’s Lucy processor to optimize modularity and ensure seamless wiring and signal routing.

According to Dr. John Burgoyne, Head of Product Management at Oxford Instruments NanoScience, “What we will demonstrate at the Global Physics Summit follows several years of partnership between the three companies, with Oxford Instruments providing the cryogenic environment expertise for OQC’s quantum processors and Quantum Machines and Oxford Instruments having also worked closely together to demonstrate strong technical synergies between their products.”

Expanding Hands-On Quantum Training and Development

The Architect platform is designed to train the next generation of quantum engineers and researchers, providing users with unrestricted access to the underlying infrastructure. Unlike conventional cloud-based quantum systems, Architect allows users to:

• Configure and modify cryogenic setups, including cool-down procedures and filtering.
• Install and replace quantum control electronics.
• Calibrate qubits, optimize gate fidelities, and execute quantum circuits on a real superconducting quantum processor.

The system has already been validated at LHR3 data center, demonstrating readiness for deployment in academic and commercial environments. Both Quantum Machines and OQC have generated experimental data from the platform, confirming its usability for training and applied research.

Live Demonstrations at APS Global Physics Summit 2025

Attendees at the APS Global Physics Summit 2025 will have the opportunity to see Architect in action. Live demonstrations will be hosted at the Quantum Machines booth (#213) and Oxford Instruments booth (#515), showcasing qubit control, cryogenic integration, and real-time quantum operations.