Qolab Secures $3.5 Million Investment from Development Bank of Japan to Drive Quantum Computing Innovations
- Qolab, a quantum computing startup that includes co-founders who were former Google quantum leaders, has secured $3.5 million from the Development Bank of Japan, as reported by Nikkei Asia.
- This funding aligns with Japan’s strategy to strengthen its role in the competitive Asian quantum sector.
- Funds will also support Qolab’s mission to develop utility-scale superconducting quantum computers.
Qolab, a quantum computing startup founded by former Google quantum leaders, has received a $3.5 million investment from the Development Bank of Japan, according to Nikkei Asia. The funding shows growing interest in Qolab’s ambitious mission to develop utility-scale superconducting quantum computers.
The investment also comes as part of Japan’s strategy to position itself among the leaders of emerging quantum technology, particularly in Asia’s competitive quantum sector.
Founded by Alan Ho, John Martinis and Robert McDermott, Qolab aims to bring quantum computing closer to practical application through innovations that enhance qubit coherence, a critical factor in the reliability of quantum systems. Alan Ho, who previously played a key role in quantum computing initiatives at Google, serves as CEO, with John Martinis, a pioneering physicist noted for his work in Google’s quantum supremacy experiment, as Chief Technology Officer. Robert McDermott, a distinguished physicist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, heads up Qolab’s hardware division.
Qolab’s primary focus on superconducting qubits positions it among a group of startups leveraging this promising technology. Superconducting qubits are seen by many industry experts as a leading approach to achieving reliable, large-scale quantum computing.
Article
Quantum Computing Luminaries Launch Qolab to Develop 'High-Quality' Superconducting Qubits
Qolab, a new quantum computing startup, has been launched to develop utility-scale superconducting quantum computers.
#qolab #quantum #computing #startup #qubit
The term, “dream team,” is a terrible cliche, used way too much in all categories and should never be used in a hard news story. But in this case…
A dream team of prominent figures in quantum computing has reportedly launched Qolab, a new venture focused on developing utility-scale superconducting quantum computers, according to a social media post. The startup, founded by Alan Ho, John Martinis and Robert McDermott, aims to improve qubit coherence and advance the practical application of quantum technology.
Alan Ho, who will serve as CEO of Qolab, announced the company’s formation in a recent LinkedIn post: “I’ve started a quantum computing company with John Martinis and Robert McDermott to build high-quality qubits.”
Ho brings extensive experience from his work at Google, where he played a significant role in building quantum computing and machine learning systems.
John Martinis, Chief Technology Officer for the company, is a physicist recognized for his leadership in quantum computing, particularly during his tenure at Google’s Quantum AI Lab. Martinis led the team responsible for achieving quantum supremacy in 2019, the first to demonstrate experimentally that a quantum computer could outperform classical supercomputers on a specific task.
Robert McDermott, who will head up hardware at Qolab, is the Roeske Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a 2020 Fellow of the American Physical Society. He was recognized for his contributions to understanding decoherence mechanisms in superconducting qubits and for developing new qubit control and readout methods.
Focus on Qubit Coherence
Qolab is currently recruiting quantum hardware scientists and engineers to join its efforts, according to a job posting. The company’s post suggest it is partnering with industry leaders in specific domains, including device fabrication, high-speed control electronics, and high-performance computing, to build robust quantum systems. According to a recent job posting, the first priority at Qolab is improving qubit coherence, a key factor in the reliability and performance of quantum computers.
To achieve this, Qolab has partnered with Applied Materials, a leader in semiconductor tooling, to develop proprietary fabrication processes. These processes are designed to enhance the stability of qubits, addressing one of the most significant challenges in quantum computing today.
Strategic Positioning
Qolab’s entry into the quantum computing space comes at a time when the technology is moving closer to practical applications. Superconducting qubits, which are central to Qolab’s work, are widely regarded as one of the most promising approaches to building scalable quantum computers. The company’s focus on “near-term beyond classical applications” suggests an emphasis on developing quantum systems that can deliver commercial value in the relatively short term.
The collaboration with Applied Materials positions Qolab to address critical issues in qubit fabrication, potentially setting the stage for advancements in quantum computing that could impact various industries, including cryptography, pharmaceuticals, and logistics.
Outlook
Qolab’s leadership team, with its deep expertise in quantum computing, positions the company to contribute meaningfully to the field. While details on the company’s specific projects and timeline remain limited, its focus on improving qubit coherence and leveraging strategic partnerships with industry leaders will be key areas to watch.
https://www.qolab.ai/
Alan Ho
I am a CEO of quantum computing start up. Previously, I built a Quantum Computer and Quantum Machine Learning software at Google Research.
I was a Chief Science Officer at DataStax. I founded a startup on mobile application performance management (now a part of Google).
Qolab
Building high quality qubits by leveraging the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.