UK Clears IonQ $1B Oxford Ionics Acquisition Under Security Conditions

IonQ has received regulatory clearance from the UK Investment Security Unit for its $1.075 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics, a UK-based trapped-ion quantum computing company. The UK government approved the deal under the National Security and Investment Act, requiring Oxford Ionics' hardware, staff, intellectual property, and manufacturing to remain in the UK to protect national security. IonQ, a leading commercial quantum computing and networking company, aims to combine its end-to-end quantum technology with Oxford Ionics' chip-based trapped-ion hardware innovations to accelerate the development of scalable, reliable quantum systems. IonQ currently operates quantum computers with 36 algorithmic qubits and plans to scale up to millions of qubits by 2030, targeting breakthroughs in sectors including drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. The acquisition highlights the strategic importance of quantum computing technology and the efforts to balance foreign investment with national security concerns. IonQ's technology is accessible through major cloud providers and has been recognized for rapid growth and innovation.