ZuriQ, an ETH Zurich spin-out, has secured $4.2 million in seed funding to commercialize a groundbreaking trapped-ion quantum computing architecture. The round was led by Founderful, with participation from SquareOne, First Momentum Ventures, OnSight Ventures, and QAI Ventures. The funding will support ZuriQ’s mission to overcome the scaling limitations of traditional trapped-ion systems, enabling the development of quantum computers with thousands of qubits.
Unlike conventional ion trap approaches that rely on one-dimensional ion chains, ZuriQ’s technology uses a combination of electric and magnetic fields to trap ions in a reconfigurable two-dimensional grid. This innovation allows ions to move freely in all directions, eliminating bottlenecks and enabling faster scaling. The company’s first prototype, expected later this year, will feature dozens of ions in a 2D grid, marking a significant step toward industrially useful quantum computing.
Pavel Hrmo, CEO of ZuriQ, emphasized the importance of scalability: “Devices with 20-40 qubits won’t drive large profits. We need to focus on long-term scalability and demonstrate that our platform can grow faster than competitors.”
ZuriQ’s architecture maintains compatibility with proven trapped-ion control techniques while offering a pathway to thousands of qubits. The company aims to serve industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and logistics, with a focus on applications requiring high data privacy, such as drug design and financial portfolio optimization.
For more information, visit ZuriQ’s press release here.
January 23, 2025
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