Fully operational quantum computer

On August 26, 2025, Qblox opened the Qubit Lab, a fully integrated quantum computer spanning the complete hardware and software stack. The quantum computer is more than a testbed; it's a statement on the power of open-architecture integration in quantum technology.

The Qblox Qubit Lab was launched as part of the Quantum Delta NL Field Lab program alongside partners like Demcon, Innovation Quarter, Quantum Delta Delft, and Quantum for Business. With components contributed by Maybell, Quantware, Delft Circuits, Qblox, and QuantrolOx, the Qubit Lab stands as an example of how a fully integrated quantum stack operates. The official opening was kick-started with remarks from Niels Bultink (Qblox), Jacqueline Schardijn (Innovation Quarter), Vincent Fokkema (Demcon), and Ulrich Mans (Quantum Delta NL), who emphasized the collaborative spirit of the Quantum Delta NL Field Lab.

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What made the day even more special? The opening was timed perfectly with the Superconducting Qubits and Algorithms (SQA) Delft 2025 conference. This unique conference gave top researchers and engineers a direct, unfiltered opportunity to witness the system running live and be part of the conversation on open-architecture quantum computing during presentations of global quantum leading companies, including Orange Quantum Systems, Bluefors, QuantrolOx, QuantWare, Q-CTRL, Maybell, Qruise, Delft Circuits, Demcon, Riverlane, and House of Quantum.

For those unable to attend, this blog takes you through the technical foundation of the Qubit Lab and explains why this integrated, open-architecture quantum computer is already creating buzz.

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From conference floor to permanent infrastructure

If you attended the APS March Meeting 2024, you might remember something unusual at the Qblox booth: a fully functional quantum computer running on the conference floor. The demonstration proved that modular quantum components could be quickly combined and operated reliably in a real-world setting. 

Over the course of a single weekend, together with Maybell and QuantWare, we unboxed and installed a fridge, initiated its cool-down, and began condensation by Monday. By Tuesday morning, we had a fully characterized system, including two-qubit Chevrons, ready to perform live qubit operations on the conference floor. This rapid deployment allowed us to perform our conference talk measurements right there on the conference floor, presented on Friday—a feat of unmatched speed of deployment. Ever wondered where that cryostat went after? It is this specific set-up that now runs our quantum experiments on superconducting qubits in Delft, The Netherlands.

Read more here.

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Welcome to our Qubit Lab

The Qubit Lab is a working example of modular quantum integration. Each subsystem is sourced from a specialized partner and engineered to operate seamlessly. A typical experiment begins with control signals programmed on the Qblox Cluster. These pulses are transmitted through Delft Circuits cabling into the Maybell dilution refrigerator, reaching the QuantWare transmon chip operating at ~15millikelvin. The resulting qubit dynamics are then read out, digitized, and fed into calibration loops performed by QuantrolOx software.

The Qubit Lab is not just a collection of components; it is a collaborative ecosystem where each part plays a critical role in achieving stable and precise quantum operations. The setup features a full-stack integration of leading quantum hardware and software, leveraging the expertise of our partners.

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Cryogenics

The lab houses a Maybell cryostat, which provides the stable, ~15mK environment essential for maintaining qubit coherence and minimizing thermal noise.

Cryogenic Cabling

Signals are accurately guided to the quantum processing unit (QPU) via Delft Circuits' flexible cryogenic cabling, ensuring low-loss transmission and signal integrity.

Quantum Processor

At the heart of the system is a QuantWare transmon-based QPU. This superconducting chip is where quantum algorithms are executed, acting as the core computational engine. In the initial bring-up of the Qubit Lab, the processor features 5 qubits, with a planned upgrade to 25 qubits in the next phase.

Control Electronics

The Qblox Cluster serves as the central control system, delivering the necessary baseband and microwave pulses with nanosecond precision to manipulate the qubits and execute complex quantum circuits. Complex algorithms are easily executed through the inherent synchronization of all channels and the integrated feedback infrastructure.

Software Automation

QuantrolOx's automated tune-up and characterization software provides the intelligence to streamline QPU optimization, reducing the time required for calibration and parameter tuning. Automation is crucial for quantum computing at scale as it accelerates experiments and thus improves operational efficiency.

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A collaborative quantum ecosystem

Quantum computers are complex systems that rely on dozens of interdependent technologies. While this complexity naturally led to a need for a full-stack solution, creating one usually requires expert integration of diverse, home-built components from across the supply chain. The Qubit Lab changes that narrative entirely. It's a real-world demonstration of the opposite approach: a modular, open architecture where every subsystem is sourced from a specialized vendor. The open architecture embodied by the Qubit Lab unlocks several key benefits:

Specialization 

Each component, from the control stack to the QPU, is built by experts focused solely on their domain. You get the best of every world.

Scalability 

Systems can be upgraded, swapped, or reconfigured without forcing a complete redesign of the entire stack. This future-proofs the hardware.

Standardization

Encourages the development of shared protocols and interfaces, making it easier to integrate components across vendors and accelerate ecosystem growth.

Resilience 

It reduces dependency on any single vendor, effectively mitigating supply chain risks and fostering competition.

Accessibility 

It opens the door for startups, academic labs, and smaller teams to contribute and innovate within specific layers of the stack.

Transparency for Research 

In a field still in its exploratory phase, open systems prevent the “black box” problem, allowing researchers to deeply understand, debug, and optimize performance at every layer of the stack.

For Qblox, the lab serves as an immediate, live testbed. New firmware updates or hardware designs for the Cluster can be instantly benchmarked against a real superconducting QPU. This direct, quantitative feedback accelerates the hardware and firmware development cycle while providing a fully transparent environment for experimentation.

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Have you heard of COMPASS SG25? 

COMPASS SG25 is a turn-key, open-architecture quantum innovation lab. TreQ delivers fully integrated, tested, and operational quantum computing systems, ready when and where they're needed. Forget supply chain nightmares and costly delays; COMPASS SG25B clears the path, letting you focus solely on your quantum breakthroughs.

COMPASS SG25B is made possible through a collaboration of leading companies in the quantum field. TreQ, a global quantum engineering and manufacturing company, builds, installs, operates, and maintains the infrastructure. Bluefors supplies the Ultra-Compact LD dilution refrigerator, integrating the cooling system into a compact unit. Qblox provides the modular quantum control stacks, offering scalable and future-proof architecture. QuantrolOx contributes Quantum EDGE, an advanced automation platform for streamlining qubit tuning and optimization. And Rigetti supplies the Novera™ 9-qubit QPU, featuring high-fidelity operations with its Ankaa™-class architecture. Each partner brings their unique expertise, creating a comprehensive solution for your quantum research needs.

Want to learn more about how COMPASS SG25 can accelerate your quantum journey? Read more here.

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A hub for learning and collaboration

What truly differentiates the Qubit Lab is its role as a resource. It is designed to be a technical and educational hub that strengthens the entire quantum workforce:

• Education: The lab will support training programs for students, researchers, and engineers, lowering the barrier to entry for working with real quantum processors.
  
• Workforce development: By providing hands-on access to a complete quantum stack, the lab helps strengthen skills within the quantum workforce pipeline.
  
• Supply chain growth: Validates and showcases components made in the Netherlands and beyond, actively welcoming vendors from around the world to join and contribute to a robust, diverse quantum ecosystem.
  
• End-user engagement: Bridges the gap between today’s quantum capabilities and the needs of industry, exploring practical applications and accelerating adoption.

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Experience the Qblox Qubit Lab, anywhere!

Although the lab is physically based in Delft, we aim to make its impact global. The setup is designed with remote access in mind, allowing demonstrations, benchmarking, and collaborative experiments with partners worldwide. This ensures that the lab is not just a physical space but also a digital resource for the broader quantum community.

At major conferences, we are offering live remote demonstrations, giving participants a direct window into the Qubit Lab. Whether it’s observing resonator spectroscopy or running a single-shot readout, the goal is to make real quantum hardware accessible to the broader community.

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Visit the Qubit Lab

The Qubit Lab is open to researchers, partners, and technology decision-makers exploring quantum control, integration, and system-level performance. If you’d like to see how a fully modular, operational quantum computer works or discuss potential collaboration, reach out to schedule a visit. This is the place where ideas about quantum control meet real qubits, and where the next generation of quantum hardware gets tested, tuned, and refined.

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