One of this year’s Nobel Prize winners, John M. Martinis, has announced a partnership with Applied Materials, Synopsys, HPE, and others.
The major goal of the Quantum Scaling Alliance, formed by John M. Martinis, is to make quantum computers scalable and accessible.
Building scalable quantum systems
John M. Martinis, one of this year’s Nobel Prize winners in physics, has partnered with major chip and tech firms to make quantum computing accessible for everyday use. On Monday, Martinis announced the creation of the Quantum Scaling Alliance, which is a new group that aims to make quantum supercomputers that can be built at a large scale.
The alliance includes Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Applied Materials, and Synopsys, as well as startups 1QBit, Quantum Machines, Riverlane, and the University of Wisconsin.
Quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once, unlike classical bits that are only zero or one. This distinct feature allows them to perform calculations far faster for specific types of problems, such as simulating molecules for drug discovery or solving optimization challenges in logistics and finance.
However, most quantum computers today are handcrafted in limited numbers. Major tech players like IBM, Microsoft, and Google have made significant progress in mass-producing these computers, but their quantum machines are typically built by small teams, one system at a time.
Martinis, who previously worked at Google and now leads the startup Qolab, said the alliance wants to fix that problem by applying the same mass-production methods used in the semiconductor industry.
“Since the early work in the field in the 1980s, quantum chips have been made in an artisanal way,” he told Reuters. “At this point, we think it’s time to switch over to a more standard professional model — using very sophisticated tools.”
Martinis also emphasizes the importance of scalability. “Quantum technology has reached the point where we need to think about mass production,” he said. “That’s how we’ll move from prototypes to practical systems that can make a real difference.”
Integrating quantum chips into traditional computing
A major challenge the initiative will have to deal with is the sensitivity of quantum circuits, as they are highly sensitive to interference, and even small errors can disrupt results. Correcting these errors requires powerful classical processors working together with quantum ones.
Masoud Mohseni, who leads the quantum team at HPE, has been working with Martinis and over thirty researchers on a technical system for integrating the two systems. That plan will now move forward under the new consortium.
“People think, naively, that once you have a system that is hundreds of qubits or that if you make it to thousands, then you can make it to millions. That’s just not true,” Mohseni explained. “At each scale, you face completely new challenges.”
The alliance is made up of members who will bring their specialized expertise to address these challenges. Applied Materials, one of the world’s biggest chip equipment makers, will contribute its experience in advanced fabrication. Synopsys, a leader in chip design software, will help create more consistent and larger-scale quantum chips.
Meanwhile, HPE’s background in high-performance computing will support the integration of quantum and classical elements in supercomputers.
By leveraging existing production tools for the computers, the alliance hopes to reduce costs and accelerate development.
No timeline has been set for the first commercial system.
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