ORCA Computing has deployed two of its PT Series photonic quantum systems at Montana State University’s (MSU) Applied Quantum CORE (QCORE) facility. The deployment is part of MSU’s QCORE program, a $26.7 million U.S. Air Force-supported initiative to transition quantum technologies from concept to market. The systems were brought online within two days of installation, demonstrating the architecture’s readiness for research.
The ORCA PT Series systems will be used for applications research and development. At a summit on “Grand Challenges in Quantum Systems” to celebrate the facility launch, ORCA Computing will demonstrate a hybrid quantum/classical generative machine learning (ML) algorithm for peptide generation. The installation is intended to provide researchers with access to the systems for exploring how quantum computing can accelerate the development of new therapeutic structures and drive research opportunities. MSU’s QCORE aims to build an applied quantum ecosystem that connects research to industries such as agriculture, transportation, and supply chain optimization.
This deployment marks a development in the U.S. quantum ecosystem and a step forward in MSU’s quantum research and commercialization agenda. Bob Sorensen, Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Analyst for Quantum Computing at Hyperion Research, noted that the deployment demonstrates how quantum is moving from theory to practice in new settings. The initiative also supports efforts to build education pathways and a quantum-ready workforce in the region. The deployment adds to ORCA’s global presence, with PT Series systems installed in Europe and Asia with various enterprise and government institutions.
Read the full announcement here.
August 19, 2025
