So much has been happening on the quantum technology front in recent days that it would be unwise to try to cram it all into one wrap-up story… but we’re going to try anyway:
…Pasqal and Qu&Co, both European quantum computing start-ups, announced a merger this week. While its wasn’t a big deal–financial terms were not disclosed, but the combined entity will have only around 60 employees, it was notable for a few reasons. For example, the two companies shared a common investor, Quantonaton, which introduced the idea to merge, showing how major investors in quantum start-ups are looking to spur the growth of their investments in an increasingly crowded market. Also, Pascal is aiming to have a 1,000-qubit processor by next year, keeping pace with the giants of the sector, such as IBM, and this race is far from over. There is also a concerted effort in Europe to help the region as a whole keep pace quantum development in the U.S. and China, and the merger comes not long after a cooperative agreement on quantum development was struck between France (where Pasqal hails from) and the Netherlands (where Qu&Co took root; it’s business is now moving to Pasqal’s HQ)...
…Quantum software companies are playing an increasingly important role in the sector, not only in the early phases of programming quantum computers to address particular applications, but also by making these computers easier to use and more customized to the needs of particular users at a time when enterprises are increasing their investments in quantum but still may lack quantum-skilled worker. Two software firms–Classiq and Quantum Computing Inc.--recently spoke to Fierce Electronics about their efforts…
…Google parent Alphabet could spin off its “secretive” quantum computing project, Sandbox@Alphabet, according to reports from TechRadar and elsewhere. While Google has made many advancements in quantum computing already and has a new Google Quantum AI campus and lab in Santa Barbara, California, the spin off could have other pursuits in mind. We don’t know much more yet because Alphabet has yet to announce anything, but any move this giant makes could easily shake up the quantum sector…
…LG Electronics has joined the IBM Quantum Network, an ecosystem of 170 companies using IBM’s hardware and software resources to explore quantum applications for their own industries. In LG’s case, that means smartphones, connected cars, IoT, AI, big data and more…
…Q-CTRL, which bills itself as a quantum control engineering firm, appointed Arivind Ratnam as its chief strategy officer. Ratnam, charged with a mission to achieve 10x growth for Q-CTRL over the next three years, previously was head of products for Sense Photonics…
…Apparently, quantum computers do have speed limitations, according to new research from the Israel Institute of Technology. Not that humans may ever notice…
Watch for our weekly quantum update reports on future Friday afternoons...