News Brief

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has released new open source software called Quantum Assembly Toolchain (QAT). It is a low-level, python based compiler that supports input in circuits written in both QASMv2.0 and base-profile compliant Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR). It also supports pulse level control with a OpenPulse interface and has built-in optimizer functionality as well as support for the optimizers functionality in Quantinuum's TKET. The software can be accessed by users either through OQC's private Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) or through AWS Braket. One of OQC's goals with this software is to make it flexible so that users can experiment, adjust and [...]

QAI Ventures has started a quantum accelerator program that is part of Switzerland's QuantumBasel quantum hub. The program started this July with an initial cohort consisting of Anaqor, Kipu Quantum, Miraex, Moonlight AI and qdc. As part of the program, the cohort members will be given access to various quantum processor platforms to conduct experiments and develop their technology. QuEra will be one of the hardware partners that will support this effort. They will provide premium access to their Aquila 256 qubit analog quantum processor along with the companion Blocade software as well as custom training and consulting services from QuEra's scientists. For QuEra, this [...]

The award was given as part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Quantum Sensing Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems (QuSec-TAQS) program which has budgeted $25 million to make 10-12 awards for projects that will last up to four years. The UCLA research team will be studying quantum sensors to measure and understand atmospheric and aerosol chemistries with contribute to poor air quality and climate change. The goal of the program will be to demonstrate that the improved sensitivity of a sensor based upon quantum technology will be able to detect minute quantities of substances such as ammonia, nitrogen oxides [...]

MATLAB is a very popular program language for use in numeric computing and has millions of users with backgrounds in engineering, science, and economics to perform data analysis, develop algorithms, and create models. They have now introduced a support package for quantum computing that can be integrated with MATLAB that allows a user to build gate-based quantum circuits, simulate the circuits, connect to quantum hardware, and analyze and plot results. The package currently provides support for connecting with Amazon Braket and IBM Qiskit. Additional details about the support package are available on the MathWorks website here, as well as instructions on [...]

QuEra first made its Aquila quantum processor available on Amazon Braket last November. This processor is a little unique because it is the first neutral atom based Aquila processor accessible through a major cloud provider. It has up to 256 qubits and operates in an analog mode that uses a technology QuEra calls "Field-programmable qubit arrays (FPQA)" that allow a user to place the qubits in near-arbitrary configurations. Although QuEra is also planning on supporting a more traditional gate-based approach, they believe this analog mode may allow end users to achieve quantum advantage with their application in an earlier timeframe than [...]

As part of the the U.S. National Quantum Initiative Act originally passed in 2018, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has established a Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (ExpandQISE) program to help build capacity and broaden participation in quantum research and education. Twenty-two grants have been announced selected from submissions to a solicitation posted earlier this year. The grants are divided into two separate categories. Seventeen institutions received Track 1 grants which provides an amount up to $800 thousand for a project that can last three years. Another five institutions received Track 2 grants which provides an amount of $5 [...]

One trend we are seeing in a number of places is quantum computing companies partnering with consultants or other organizations that have deep experience servicing clients using classical computing technology. This allows the quantum companies with an extended sales channel for customers they previously had no relationship with and also provides the consultants with some new technology to include in their portfolio of solutions. The latest example is IonQ, a leading provider of ion trap based quantum processors working with BearingPoint to provide professional services and access to IonQ systems to their clients in Europe. Until recently, IonQ had little presence [...]

This Series A funding for Phasecraft was led by Playground Global with additional participation from AlbionVC, and existing investors existing investors Episode1, Parkwalk Advisors, LCIF, and the UCL Technology Fund. The UK based quantum software company specializes in developing efficient algorithms for materials discovery. The company was established in 2018 and has published 17 technical papers. Their software can provide a 1,000,000 times improvement for modelling materials over the best previous quantum algorithm. They partner with quantum hardware providers including Google, IBM, and Rigetti as well as end users like specialty materials developer Johnson Matthey and solar cell developer Oxford PV. The company will be [...]

Kipu Quantum and the University of Santiago de Chile will work together to research digital, analog, and digital-analog quantum computing solutions for quantum processors using superconducting, trapped ions, and neutral atom modalities. Kipu Quantum focuses on developing application and hardware-specific quantum algorithms which they believe can provide industrial usefulness much earlier than other more general approaches which may be more flexible, but require more powerful hardware to provide useful results. Earlier this year Kipu Quantum signed other research agreements with QuEra, Pasqal, and the University of Valencia. A news release announcing the agreement between Kipu Quantum and the University of Santiago [...]