The new quantum firm plans a {hardware} agnostic method mixed with Honeywell’s H1 and Cambridge Quantum’s tket.
Quantinuum is the brand new firm that mixes trapped ion {hardware} from Honeywell Quantum Solutions and open-source software program from Cambridge Quantum to create a full-stack quantum computing firm.
Image: Quantinuum
Quantinuum just isn’t counting qubits within the race to error-corrected quantum computing. The new firm is asking a brand new query: “What can we do right now with what we’ve got?”Honeywell Quantum Solutions brings the System Model H1 to the brand new entity whereas Cambridge Quantum contributes Tket. This mixture of trapped-ion quantum {hardware} and open-source software program creates a full-stack quantum computing firm that already has paying clients and customers all over the world. The corporations introduced plans to create a brand new firm in June and regulatory approval is now full. Tony Uttley, president and COO of the brand new firm, mentioned Quantinuum is the middle of gravity for all the ecosystem. “We will be the only truly integrated full stack quantum computing company in the world,” he mentioned. The firm’s technique is {hardware} and software program agnostic, with plans to combine different quantum software program into its tech stack in addition to different {hardware}. Uttley mentioned Quantinuum rejects the traditional quantum knowledge that these new machines will want thousands and thousands of qubits to be helpful to companies in the present day. “We took the exact opposite approach and asked what can we do with it today?” he mentioned. “We have found out you can do a lot today.”SEE: Quantum actuality examine: Gartner expects extra 10 years of hype however CIOs ought to begin discovering use instances now Tony Uttley, president and COO of Quantinuum
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Quantinuum plans to reply the query, “What can you do for me now?” earlier than the 12 months is over. A cybersecurity product is within the works and will likely be introduced earlier than the top of the 12 months. Ilyas Khan, CEO of the brand new firm and founding father of Cambridge Quantum, mentioned clients will have the ability to use the flagship product off the shelf. “This cybersecurity product requires nobody to change any infrastructure,” he mentioned. “They do not need to buy a quantum computer or rent one, or go to the cloud to hire one by the hour.”Uttley mentioned the following product milestone in 2022 will likely be centered on chemistry: an enterprise software program bundle that applies quantum computing to resolve advanced scientific issues in prescribed drugs, materials science, specialty chemical substances and agrochemicals.”It’s outstanding to be at this place of making quantum computing practical,” he mentioned.Quantinuum represents a turning level within the trade, Khan mentioned, as 2021 would be the 12 months quantum computing grew to become commercially related. “We’re very much in the Lotus 1-2-3 moment,” he mentioned. “For some time to come, the industry will think about how to educate the market to differentiate either performance potential or technological advances which might in turn shorten the timeline for commercially relevant quantum compute.” Ilyas Khan, CEO of Quantinuum
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SEE: Quantum computing: A cheat sheetDaniel Newman, principal analyst at Futurum Research, mentioned that Quantinuum is on the point of launching an software that may be deployed and drive income in the present day.”It’s an application that can meet a need that isn’t currently achievable using classical computing,” he mentioned. “I think it is still early days, and the initial idea of ‘Practical Quantum’ will take some time to fully resonate, but directionally, I do believe this shift is beginning to take shape.”Newman predicts that the way forward for quantum will likely be closely grounded in quantum augmenting classical computing to resolve advanced issues that the 2 can not clear up as nicely collectively. Uttley sees the following section as parsing out items of 1 algorithm to completely different quantum and/or classical {hardware}, corresponding to working one half on a trapped-ion machine and one other on a GPU cluster. “That’s where the true OS development comes into play and there really is no other company that can do that,” he mentioned. Open-minded method to {hardware} The two leaders mentioned that one of many new firm’s targets is to assist all the quantum ecosystem, however the selection to make use of different quantum {hardware} has a sensible ingredient too. Uttley mentioned the H1 collection is at capability with all obtainable time being utilized by inner and exterior clients. “We don’t have sufficient capacity if we restrict ourselves to the H1 series,” Khan mentioned. “Also, it’s very good for us to see how other hardware companies are beginning to help us to provide diverse solutions.”The H1 not too long ago achieved a quantum quantity of 1,024, whereas IBM simply introduced that its Eagle processor has reached 127 qubits. The H1 makes use of IBM’s quantum computer systems along with its personal {hardware}. Honeywell is a provider for Quantinuum in addition to a buyer of the brand new firm’s companies. Honeywell has invested virtually $300 million within the new enterprise and Uttley predicts that Quantinuum will appeal to buyers who’ve been hesitant about investing in quantum expertise.SEE: Quantum information: Advances in error correction and startup of the 12 months award in France”This new company provides an opportunity that doesn’t feel like you’re making a bet on a particular technology but more betting on the entire industry for success,” he mentioned. Bob Sorensen, senior vp of analysis and chief analyst for quantum computing at Hyperion Research, mentioned there is no such thing as a clear winner in the meanwhile among the many quite a few designs for quantum {hardware}, which incorporates superconducting qubits, trapped ions, photonics and extra.”That is exactly why this new company is stressing that their software emphasis will be hardware agnostic, so as not to force users to pick a single quantum computing implementation at this time,” he mentioned.Supporting open supply quantum software programQuantinuum will promote software program merchandise below the Cambridge Quantum model. “We’ve got 100,000 of users of tket and customers who rely on Cambridge Quantum Computing and we don’t want to lose sight of that,” Khan mentioned.Holger Mueller, principal analyst and vp of Constellation Research, Inc., mentioned the upper innovation and transparency of open supply applies to quantum software program improvement simply because it does with conventional software program engineering.”Open source has won on an IaaS level and most of PaaS,” he mentioned. “Quantum is no exception and open source based platforms and framework will be key for quantum as well.” SEE: Q-CTRL launches quantum computing course for individuals who did not examine physicsNewman mentioned this method ensures the portability of purposes to take care of worth of their improvement efforts even when a sure quantum platform would not wind up being the popular platform. The cloud is an effective instance of why portability will matter. “As organizations want to move workloads to different infrastructure, open source can be a great means to accomplish that,” he mentioned. “Also, open source provides more opportunities to democratize quantum application development and enable the developer community to innovate and develop more powerful applications.”Quantinuum has about 400 workers with researchers and engineers making up about 80% of that group. The firm’s software program headquarters will stay in Europe with the {hardware} HQ in Broomfield, Colorado.
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