Google opens its Willow quantum chip to UK researchers. Here’s why it matters

Google and the UK government are launching a program that gives British researchers access to Willow, Google’s flagship quantum processor. The partnership, run through the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), invites scientists to pitch proposals and run experiments directly on one of the world’s most advanced quantum chips.

Access to hardware like this is rare. Quantum processors remain scarce, expensive and largely experimental. For UK researchers, this is a chance to work with a system that represents the leading edge of the field.

Professor Paul Stevenson of the University of Surrey, who is not involved with the agreement, called the move “great news for UK researchers,” adding that open competition for time on Willow puts British academics “in an enviable position.” It is also a win for Google, which stands to benefit from the UK’s concentrated quantum expertise.

Quantum computing works very differently from traditional computing. Instead of processing information in bits, quantum machines rely on the physics of particles to explore many states at once.

In theory, they could unlock breakthroughs in chemistry, drug discovery, materials science and physics. In practice, most existing quantum systems are still prototypes with limited real-world use. Willow is seen as a meaningful step forward, but the field is still in its early stages.

By opening Willow to UK researchers, Google and the NQCC hope to uncover practical applications sooner. Scientists will submit proposals detailing what they want to test, then work with specialists from both organisations to design and run experiments.

The NQCC already houses seven quantum computers from UK firms like Quantum Motion, ORCA and Oxford Ionics. Adding access to Willow deepens its role as a central hub for the country’s quantum ecosystem.

The partnership also plugs into a wider global race. Amazon, IBM and other companies are pushing their own quantum platforms. Quantinuum, headquartered in Cambridge and Colorado, reached a $10 billion valuation this year. Breakthroughs announced throughout 2025 have convinced some experts that genuinely impactful quantum systems could arrive within a decade.

Dr Michael Cuthbert, director of the NQCC, says the partnership will “accelerate discovery.”

He expects the work supported by Willow to contribute to advances in “life science, materials, chemistry, and fundamental physics.” The UK government has committed £670 million to quantum development as part of its industrial strategy and believes the sector could add £11 billion to the economy by 2045.

What it means

Google’s move signals a shift toward shared testing grounds where academic expertise intersects with corporate hardware. For the UK, it strengthens national capability in a high-stakes field. For Google, it expands the pool of researchers who can pressure-test and shape its hardware roadmap. And for quantum computing more broadly, it is another sign that the field is moving from lab prototypes toward targeted real-world experiments.

The recap

• Google will provide Willow processors to UK researchers.
• Researchers may apply for access and an NQCC grant.
• Proposals must be submitted by 31 January for consideration.