Insider Brief
Google and the UK government will give researchers access to the company’s Willow quantum chip to identify potential real-world applications, according to the BBC.
Scientists can submit proposals and work with Google and the National Quantum Computing Centre to design and run experiments on the hardware.
The partnership comes as global competition in quantum computing intensifies and the UK increases investment in the sector.
Google and the UK government are opening access to one of the company’s most advanced quantum chips, a move that aims to uncover practical uses for a technology still searching for real-world traction, according to the BBC.
The BBC reports that the partnership will give UK researchers a chance to propose experiments using Google’s Willow processor, a state-of-the-art chip unveiled in 2024 and viewed as a major milestone in quantum hardware. The effort reflects growing interest in finding applications for quantum systems, which operate using principles from quantum physics rather than traditional electronic circuits. Some experts believe these machines may eventually solve problems in chemistry, medicine and materials that are beyond the reach of today’s computers.
Access to Willow is designed to speed up that search. According to the BBC, scientists will be able to submit proposals describing how they plan to use the chip, then work with experts from Google and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) to design and run experiments.
“The new ability to access Google’s Willow processor, through open competition, puts UK researchers in an enviable position,” Professor Paul Stevenson, of the University of Surrey, told the BBC. “It is good news for Google, too, who will benefit from the skills of UK academics.”
Current quantum devices remain largely experimental, and most have limited practical value. The new collaboration is meant to close that gap by allowing more researchers to test ideas directly on cutting-edge hardware.
A Growing Field
The BBC reports that competition among major technology firms is intensifying as companies race to build the first machines capable of delivering commercial-scale impact. Several companies, including Google competitors, such as Microsoft and IBM, are pursuing their own hardware strategies, and the UK has emerged as a significant player. Quantinuum, which is headquartered in Cambridge and Colorado, reached a valuation of $10 billion in 2025, underscoring investor confidence in the sector, the news service reports.
New research milestones announced throughout 2025 have led some experts to believe that quantum computers capable of meaningful real-world performance could arrive within a decade, according to the BBC. UK officials have positioned quantum as a strategic priority and have committed £670 million to support development through the country’s industrial strategy. Government forecasts cited by the BBC suggest quantum technology could add £11 billion to the UK economy by 2045.
Expanding Access
The NQCC already hosts seven quantum systems built by British firms, including Quantum Motion, ORCA and Oxford Ionics (recently acquired by IonQ).
Dr. Michael Cuthbert, NQCC director, told the BBC that the collaboration with Google will speed discovery and could eventually help establish uses in fields such as life sciences, chemistry, and fundamental physics.
Researchers are expected to begin submitting proposals in the coming months, which could serve as an early test of whether new access to advanced hardware can accelerate progress in the field.