Photonics Innovation Awards

ZuriQ

Award category: Innovation 2025 Winner

Project: Scalable quantum computers based on trapped ion qubits

About the winner

We are building a quantum computer with scalability at its heart.

 

Spun out of ETH Zurich’s quantum computing research, ZuriQ combines deep scientific expertise with a clear mission: to rapidly increase qubit numbers in the trapped ion modality and bring practical quantum computing closer to reality.

The winning innovation

The ZuriQ Penning micro-trap array


Trap sketch with ion-array

Proposed array of Penning microtraps

The magnetic field makes an angle with , the vector normal to the lattice plane in which all of the ions lie. The ion separation is given by the electrode pattern. The critical parameter for the ion-ion interaction is the separation of neighboring sites , while the distance from the surface strongly affects the level of noise from fluctuating electric fields. Q. A. Turchette, D. Kielpinski, B. E. King, D. Leibfried, D. M. Meekhof, C. J. Myatt, M. A. Rowe, C. A. Sackett, C. S. Wood, W. M. Itano, C. Monroe, and D. J. Wineland, Heating of Trapped Ions from the Quantum Ground State, Phys. Rev. A 61, 063418 (2000).

ZuriQ is developing a scalable trapped ion quantum computer using a novel 2D ion confinement approach. Unlike competitors constrained by linear, 1D architectures, ZuriQ’s technology enables true 2D grids of ions, offering superior scalability, connectivity, and control. Their micro fabricated Penning trap array allows ions to move and interact freely across a planar surface, enabling architectures that can grow to thousands of qubits.  Read more.

Why this project was selected

Quantum computing is one of the most dynamic and transformative innovation fields today. ZuriQ’s approach stands out by combining a fundamentally new trapped‑ion architecture with instrumentation that enables both spatial and temporal resolution — a capability not achievable with standard technologies.

 

The synergy between ZuriQ’s micro‑trap array and Hamamatsu’s ORCA®‑Quest scientific CMOS camera makes it possible to observe and control ion configurations with unprecedented precision. This combination enables reconfigurable ion traps, high‑resolution imaging, and scalable architectures that go beyond the limits of conventional RF‑based systems.

 

By adding spatial resolution to the temporal resolution typically provided by detectors such as PMTs, ZuriQ opens the door to new experimental regimes and large‑scale quantum system design.

Mobile Padding

3x3 Array of Trapped Ions in ZuriQ's quantum architecture demonstrated in collaboration with ETH Zurich.

3x3 Array of Trapped Ions in ZuriQ's quantum architecture demonstrated in collaboration with ETH Zurich. 

What this award means to us


Dr. Pavel Hrmo, CEO, ZuriQ

Responsive Padding

“We are honored to receive the Hamamatsu Photonics Innovation Award. This recognition reinforces our belief that scalable trapped ion architectures will play a central role in the future of quantum computing. The support from Hamamatsu encourages us to push even further as we work toward practical, large scale quantum systems.”Dr. Pavel Hrmo, CEO, ZuriQ


Looking ahead

ZuriQ’s next steps focus on expanding their 2D ion trap platform, increasing qubit numbers, and refining the control systems required for large scale quantum computation. The collaboration potential with Hamamatsu — particularly in advanced camera and array sensor modules with single photon sensitivity, fast acquisition, and low latency — will support the development of reconfigurable, stable, and scalable quantum architectures.

 

With a strong scientific foundation and a clear technological roadmap, ZuriQ is well positioned to shape the next generation of quantum computing.



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