Quantum Motion: Silicon-Based Quantum Computing Company – Funding, Technology, Roadmap & Investor Brief
- Ramesh Manikondu
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Quantum Motion is a London-based quantum computing hardware company founded in 2017 by Prof. John Morton (UCL) and Prof. Simon Benjamin (Oxford), now led by CEO James Palles‑Dimmock. Its core thesis: build fault‑tolerant, utility‑scale quantum computers using standard 300 mm silicon CMOS foundries the same infrastructure that makes smartphone and data‑center chips so quantum processors can scale to millions of qubits while fitting inside ordinary server racks.
In September 2025, Quantum Motion delivered the industry’s first full‑stack silicon CMOS quantum computer to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), marking a major transition from lab research to deployable hardware. In May 2026, it closed a $160M Series C to accelerate commercialization and global R&D.
Technology Explainer: How Quantum Motion’s Silicon Quantum Computer Works
Qubit modality: electron spins in silicon quantum dots
Each qubit is a single electron trapped in a transistor‑like “quantum dot” fabricated on a silicon chip; the electron’s spin‑up/spin‑down encodes |0⟩ and |1⟩.
Control is electrical (gate voltages and microwave pulses), leveraging decades of CMOS know‑how rather than exotic materials or optical setups.
Why silicon CMOS matters for scale
Manufacturability: Quantum Motion’s qubits are made on 300 mm wafers in commercial foundries (e.g., GlobalFoundries 22FDX), enabling high‑volume, repeatable production.
Density: The company has demonstrated 1,024 quantum dots in <0.1 mm² (“Bloomsbury” chip), pointing to a path where millions of qubits fit on postage‑stamp‑sized dies.
Integration: Cryogenic CMOS control circuits can sit near the qubits at ~1–4 K, reducing wiring bottlenecks and latency for error correction.
System architecture: data‑center friendly
The NQCC system integrates the quantum processing unit (QPU), cryo‑electronics, and software stack into three standard 19‑inch racks, including the dilution refrigerator.
A tile‑based design lets the machine be upgraded by swapping in newer chips without replacing the cryostat or racks—critical for iterative scaling.
Error correction strategy (SiQEC)
Quantum Motion is running the UK‑funded SiQEC (Silicon Quantum Error Correction) project with UCL to demonstrate repeated QEC cycles on silicon spin qubits.
Near‑term target: a 2×3 quantum‑dot unit cell (two data qubits plus measure/ancilla qubits) performing fast parity checks and spin shuttling key primitives for 2D error‑correcting codes.
Funding & Investors (as of August 2026)
Round | Amount | Date | Lead Investors | Notable Participants |
Series A | £8M | 2020 | INKEF | — |
Series B | £42M (~$50M) | Feb 2023 | Bosch Ventures | Porsche SE, others |
Series C | $160M | May 2026 | DCVC, Kembara | British Business Bank (£40M anchor), Firgun, Oxford Science Enterprises, Inkef, Porsche SE, Parkwalk Advisors |
The British Business Bank’s £40M commitment is its largest single investment in a quantum computing company to date.
Total disclosed funding now exceeds ~$220M+, positioning Quantum Motion among the UK’s best‑funded quantum hardware startups.
Key Achievements & Milestones
2017: Company founded (Oxford/UCL spinout).
2020–2021: First cryo‑CMOS integration and high‑fidelity single/two‑qubit operations on 300 mm wafers.
2022: “Bloomsbury” chip with 1,024 quantum dots; rapid automated characterization in minutes.
2023: Series B (£42M) to scale teams and manufacturing ties.
2024: GlobalFoundries partnership formalized; selected for DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) Stage A.
Sep 2025: Delivered first full‑stack silicon CMOS quantum computer to UK NQCC (three‑rack footprint).
Nov 2025: Advanced to DARPA QBI Stage B (one of 11 companies).
2025–2026: Launched SiQEC project to demonstrate repeated QEC cycles and spin shuttling in silicon.
Jul 2026: Demonstrated a compact, high‑fidelity dispersive spin sensor compatible with 300 mm manufacturing (Nature Sensors).
May 2026: Closed $160M Series C to commercialize and expand global R&D.
Research Status (2025–2026)
Device performance: Reported single‑qubit fidelities >99% and two‑qubit gate fidelities ~98% on foundry‑fabricated silicon—within striking distance of error‑correction thresholds, especially with materials improvements (e.g., isotopically enriched ^28Si).
Readout breakthrough: A July 2026 Nature Sensors paper (with CIC nanoGUNE) shows a tunable silicon MOS unit cell achieving fast, high‑fidelity dispersive spin sensing precisely the kind of readout needed for QEC.
Error correction path: SiQEC targets a rudimentary fault‑tolerant unit cell by ~2026 using a 2×3 array with parity checks and shuttling aiming for the first 2D QEC cycles in silicon.
DARPA validation: Progress to QBI Stage B indicates external confidence in Quantum Motion’s roadmap to a utility‑scale, fault‑tolerant machine by the early 2030s.
Future Plans & Roadmap
Quantum Motion’s public roadmap emphasizes industrial scalability over headline qubit counts, with a focus on deploying upgradeable systems in standard data centers.
2026: Demonstrate repeated QEC cycles and high‑fidelity spin shuttling in a 2×3 silicon array (SiQEC).
2027–2028: Scale to larger tiled arrays (tens to low‑hundreds of physical qubits) and show small logical qubits / error‑corrected primitives.
By ~2030: Target commercially useful, fault‑tolerant systems capable of meaningful applications (materials, chemistry, optimization).
By 2033 (DARPA QBI horizon): Pursue a utility‑scale, fault‑tolerant silicon quantum computer aligned with QBI’s 2033 goal.
Manufacturing & deployment: Continue leveraging 300 mm CMOS lines and the three‑rack architecture to deliver systems that can be upgraded by chip swaps reducing cost, space (~100×), and energy (~1,000×) versus many competing approaches.
Why This Matters for Investors
Scalability moat: Quantum Motion’s bet is that the trillion‑dollar semiconductor supply chain is the fastest route to millions of qubits turning quantum from bespoke lab gear into a manufacturable product.
Deployment readiness: The NQCC system proves a data‑center‑compatible form factor with an upgrade path, reducing CapEx risk for early adopters.
De‑risked roadmap: DARPA QBI Stage B selection, a GlobalFoundries fab partnership, and a £40M BBB anchor signal strong technical and policy confidence.
Catalysts to watch (2026–2028): SiQEC QEC demonstrations, larger tiled‑chip deployments, and first logical‑qubit results would materially validate the fault‑tolerance path.
Quick Facts
Headquarters: London, UK (labs in London & Oxford; offices in San Sebastian, Sydney).
Founders: John Morton (CTO), Simon Benjamin (CSO); CEO: James Palles‑Dimmock.
Modality: Gate‑based silicon spin qubits (CMOS).
Flagship system: Full‑stack silicon CMOS quantum computer at UK NQCC (2025).
