Quantum Brilliance selected for $57m German project to develop world’s first mobile quantum computer

Quantum Brilliance selected for $57m German project to develop world’s first mobile quantum computer

Quantum Brilliance founders (L-R) Marcus Doherty, Mark Luo and Andrew Horsley.

Canberra-based computing hardware group Quantum Brilliance, in partnership with Austrian quantum architecture company ParityQC, has scored a global coup after being selected to take part in a €35 million ($57.5 million) German project to develop the world’s first mobile quantum computer by 2027.

The contract from by Germany’s cyber agency Cyberagentur is among three awarded for the project which, if successful, has scope for significant implications in defence and cybersecurity.

Quantum Brilliance brings to the partnership its skills in miniaturisation through the production of smaller quantum chips that operate at room temperature using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in synthetic diamonds as qubits.

The company, which is backed by Investible and Main Sequence, is merging its talents with those of ParityQC which is developing a quantum architecture and operating system for highly scalable NV-centre quantum computers. Both approaches are said to be essential in achieving a mobile quantum computer.

The €35 million project is the largest research amount ever awarded by Cyberagentur, which aims to make a mobile quantum computer for use in defence, security and civilian applications and is designed to keep Germany at the forefront of technological innovation.

“We’re excited to work with our partners at ParityQC and we thank the Cyberagentur for its commitment to innovation,” says Mark Luo, co-founder and CEO of Quantum Brilliance.

“The potential of a quantum mobile computer is enormous for defence and cybersecurity in Germany and allied nations, and we believe our technology is the perfect fit for fulfilling the goals of this project.”

ParityQC is confident that the partnership with Quantum Brilliance puts the companies “on a path to developing the world’s first mobile quantum computer”.

“ParityQC’s architecture offers advantages that will be critical to mobile development, such as the ability to process larger algorithms faster, and at a reduced error rate,” say ParityQC co-CEOs Wolfgang Lechner and Magdalena Hauser in a joint statement.

The benefits of a mobile quantum computer include being able to perform highly complex simulations at quantum speeds deployed directly in the field instead of in data centres or via cloud access, allowing for secure and reliable computing power in remote environments.

In defence and national security scenarios, a mobile quantum computer could optimise troop movements, analyse battlefield scenarios, and simulate chemical or biological agents in real time.

“Mobile quantum technology will enable powerful computations in environments not possible with classical computers,” says Mark Mattingley-Scott, chief revenue officer and European general manager for Quantum Brilliance.

“The technology will not only enhance defence and cybersecurity but will eventually benefit applications in scientific research, supply chain management, finance and more.”

Founded in 2019 by Luo, Andrew Horsley and Marcus Doherty, Quantum Brilliance’s quantum computers use synthetic diamonds to operate at room temperature in a range of environments like data centres, mobile devices, autonomous vehicles and spacecraft.

The machines do not require the use of cryogenics, vacuum systems and precision laser arrays, an advantage that means Quantum Brilliance’s technology uses less power and can be deployed in a wider variety of settings.

The company, which has an office in Germany, raised USD$18 million ($25.8 million) in 2023 with participation from Breakthrough Victoria, Main Sequence, Investible, Ultratech Capital Partners, MA Growth Ventures, Jelix Ventures, Rampersand and CM Equity Partners.

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