News Brief

Last May we wrote about a new Research Credit Program at IonQ that would provide up to $10,000 in computer time credits for approved projects at accredited academic institutions. Apparently, IonQ was so pleased with the result, that they have just announced they are now accepting applications for a second cohort for this program. The credits can be used to access the IonQ quantum computer directly at IonQ or through one of their cloud partners (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform). The credits can be used for such things as proof(s) of concepts, algorithms and applications research, evaluation [...]

Wits University, also known as University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has received this initial grant from South Africa's Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to start the implementation of Phase 1 of the South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI). Additional phases are expected to follow in the future. The SA QuTI is a consortium of five universities in South Africa including Wits University, Stellenbosch University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and University of Zululand to support quantum technology development initiatives and provide student and researchers access to IBM's Q Network of quantum machines. Wits University [...]

QDevil's new product, called QDAC-II, is a 24 channel DAC (Digital to Analog Converters) that operates with ultra-low noise at a sample rate of 1 million samples per second, a thousand times faster than its predecessor. A key benefit of this device is that it enables much faster tuning of the qubits than previously possible. It can be used to provide DC and intermediate frequency control of quantum devices including gate electrodes, flux bias coils and other purposes. Each channel is also equipped with a DC current sensor with a resolution down to a few tens of picoamps with sampling rates [...]

We reported in June that a Chinese quantum research group had developed a superconducting based quantum computer named Zuchongzhi 2.0 and had replicated and surpassed Google's Quantum Supremacy experiment with a circuit that used 56 qubits to calculate random circuits to a depth of 20 levels. This surpassed Google's initial result which used a 53 qubit circuit to a depth of 20 levels. The total number of raw qubits in the Zuchongzhi system is 66, but did not use all of them in their initial experiement. After additional improvements the group has created a Zuchongzhi 2.1 machine and reran the experiment to [...]

The companies have agreed to collaborate to help accelerate the usage of quantum computing to the business community globally. Accenture is a professional services company with over 569,000 employees and clients in over 120 countries. They provide services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations services. In particular, they may be able to help clients wishing to get involved with quantum technology by helping them formulate strategies, identify appropriate problems, develop solutions, and deploy the solutions within the client's company. And with their large base of existing clients, they should be able to leverage these contacts and bring additional new [...]

When a user submits a quantum program to run on a quantum computer, the software will typically run it through an optimizing compiler that will convert the program to an execution that will achieve the same results but in a more efficient manner. The optimizing compiler may reduce the number of circuit levels, reorder the operations, reallocate which qubits are used or change the specific gates used. Normally, this is a good thing but it can result in more accurate results from the program with fewer errors. But for users who are trying to benchmark a quantum processor or develop error [...]

Arqit, a UK-based quantum encryption company, has started trading on the NASDAQ this week as part of their business combination with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Centricus Acquisition Corporation which closed on September 3, 2021. The company now has outstanding shares of 140.3 million with a market cap currently exceeding $2 billion. Although the company has had minimal revenue to date, it recently released its QuantumCloud Release 1.0 and is now shipping it to twenty enterprise and governmental customers for integration and testing which will provide revenues starting in December 2021. The company indicates they already have signed contracts totaling $130 [...]

IonQ stated that this amount triples their initial target for 2021 bookings which was originally $5 million. These bookings are expected are for deliverables that would be provided over the next 36 months. It certainly an optimistic sign that the bookings levels are increasing but IonQ still has a long way to go in order to hit its financial forecast. In an investor presentation made by the IonQ and dMY management in February 2021, they forecasted billings revenue to be about $5 million in 2021, $15 million in 2022 and $34 million in 2023. So not only will they need more [...]

ColdQuanta has announced Scott Faris as the new CEO and will also be restructuring the company into three division. Faris takes over from Dan Caruso who served as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO. Previously, Faris was the Chief Business Office at Luminar Technologies, Inc. In addition, ColdQuanta announced it is restructuring the company into three division with Paul Lipman leading the Quantum Computing division, Max Perez leading the Quantum Research as a Service (QRaaS) division, and Sandi Mays serving as acting general manager of the ColdAtom Technologies division. D-Wave has named John Markovich as the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining [...]

As part of an overall declaration between the governments of France and The Netherlands to deepen and strengthen their bilateral relationship in a number of areas, the two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in quantum technologies. Both countries already have significant efforts ongoing in quantum research, but by joining forces they can make the efforts have an even large impact. The governments had previously budgeted €1.8 billion in France and €615 million in the Netherlands for quantum research. The partnership will also make their European efforts more competitive against the large investments in quantum development [...]