Top 10 companies in the world of quantum computing

By Marcus Law
We explore 10 of the most influential companies in the world of quantum computing, which is set to transform our world

Few technological advancements have the potential of quantum computing, which could transform industry worldwide on an unprecedented scale.

Quantum computers use qubits, which can be 1 and 0 simultaneously, allowing these machines to handle much more complex problems. Physicists think that quantum computers might one day run revolutionary algorithms that could, for example, search unwieldy databases or factor large numbers — including, importantly, those used in encryption. 

Here are 10 of the top companies in the world of quantum computing technology.

10: Xanadu

Canadian quantum technology company Xanadu is a startup notable for exploring photonic quantum computing, which uses the quantum properties of light particles to run. 

Founded in 2016, Xanadu's mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. 

The company has released free, open-source software that lets almost anyone run commands on publicly accessible, cloud-based quantum computers, like the IBM Q Experience or the University of Bristol’s Quantum in the Cloud.

9: Toshiba

Toshiba’s Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) program is working to secure network communications applying the fundamental laws of Quantum Physics. 

Since starting research into quantum cryptography in 2003 at the Cambridge Research Laboratory of Toshiba Research Europe Limited, the company has demonstrated a number of notable world firsts, including being the first to announce quantum key distribution over 100km of fibre in 2004 and the first with a continuous key rate exceeding 10 Mbit/second in 2017.

8: Rigetti

Rigetti Computing builds and deploys integrated quantum computing systems leveraging superconducting qubit technology. These systems enable organisations to augment existing computational workflows with quantum processors. 

Rigetti serves customers in finance, insurance, pharmaceuticals, defence, and energy with custom software and full-stack solutions focused on simulation, optimisation, and machine learning applications. 

The company is headquartered in California, with offices in Washington, DC, Australia, and the UK.

7: Intel

Processor-maker Intel is leveraging its expertise in high-volume transistor manufacturing to develop ‘hot’ silicon spin-qubits, much smaller computing devices that operate at higher temperatures. Its Horse Ridge II cryogenic quantum control chip provides tighter integration, while the cryoprober enables high-volume testing that is helping to accelerate commercialisation.

According to its director of quantum hardware, Intel is eyeing nothing less than a million-qubit system — the number at which it says truly transformational power will occur.

6: Amazon

Amazon is building the framework for a quantum computer, advancing attempts to harness technology that can crunch huge amounts of data in seconds.

In June, the company launched the AWS Centre for Quantum Networking, and with Amazon Braket, the company offers developers access to quantum computers from the likes of IonQ, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Rigetti and D-Wave. The company is also already running the AWS Center for Quantum Computing in Pasadena, California, and the Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab.

5: QCI

With a goal of delivering ready-to-run quantum systems that accelerate and simplify the adoption of quantum computing. Quantum Computing Inc (QCI) is on a mission to accelerate the value of quantum computing for real-world business solutions.

The combination of the company’s flagship software platform Qatalyst with QPhoton’s QPS, sets QCI on a path to delivering a full-stack quantum solution that can be used by non-quantum experts for real-world industry applications.

QCI also seeks to eliminate the vendor lock-in created by low-level coding to individual QPUs, and to deliver the best performance results at the lowest cost for users. 

4: D-Wave

D-Wave systems use a process called quantum annealing to search for solutions to a problem. 

Quantum annealing is uniquely designed for optimisation, both today and into the future, and D-Wave says customers can solve larger and more complex problems and get higher quality answers for real-world problems faster. 

Some of the world’s most sophisticated enterprises employ D-Wave systems, including Lockheed Martin, Google, NASA Ames, Volkswagen, USRA, USC and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

3: Google

Google Quantum AI is advancing the state of the art of quantum computing and developing the tools for researchers to operate beyond classical capabilities.

From its campus in Santa Barbara, the Google Quantum AI lab’s objective is to create a quantum computer that can tackle real-world problems. Google aims to investigate near-term applications that are forward compatible with a large-scale universal error-corrected quantum computer.

2: Microsoft

For decades, Microsoft has been doing basic quantum physics research to solve some of society's largest, most complex challenges.

Microsoft has all the building blocks of a topological qubit—a new and unique qubit that will be faster, smaller, and more reliable than other qubits. In time, topological qubits will power Microsoft's fully scalable, highly secure, next-generation quantum computer.

Its Azure cloud platform gives companies access to quantum resources without the high expenses and infrastructure costs that typically come with it, where users can also access resources from QCI, Honeywell, Toshiba, IONQ and 1Qloud.

1: IBM

Since becoming the first to offer cloud-based quantum computing access, IBM is continuing to release new versions of its quantum computing technologies.

It plans to release a 433-qubit processor called Osprey this year, with a 1,121-qubit processor called Condor to succeed it in 2023. 

By 2023, the Condor quantum computer will house a 1,121-qubit CPU and be capable of investigating Quantum Advantage.

At that point, IBM hopes this system will solve problems more efficiently than a supercomputer.

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