The funding is intended to help QuiX in the development of a powerful photonic quantum computer and marks the first major investment by PhotonDelta since it secured €1.1 billion in investment to expand the Dutch photonics ecosystem. The funding has also allowed the appointment of industry veteran Dr. Stefan Hengesbach as QuiX’s new CEO.
Photonics uses photons (light) to transfer information. Photonic chips, also called photonic integrated circuits (PICs), integrate photonic functions into microchips to create smaller, faster and more energy-efficient devices. PICs can process and transmit data much more effectively than their electronic counterparts and have emerged as the key technology in the development of quantum computing.
Most of the components of a photonic quantum computer can operate at room temperature - a major step forward in reducing their cost and size. QuiX expects to launch a full system photonic quantum computer based on its 20 qumode processor in early 2023 and launch a new generation 50 qumode processor in 2023. Increasing the number of qumodes from 20 to 50 takes the quantum machine from the equivalent of a laptop to a supercomputer.
Dr. Stefan Hengesbach, CEO of QuiX Quantum, said: “QuiX Quantum’s processors are already world leading and ideally suited to create the most powerful photonic quantum computer we have yet seen. This round brings us a huge leap forward towards this goal and will enable us to start production of a game changing 50 qumode processor. The technical terms around quantum computing can be very complicated, however, what we need to keep in mind is just how radical this technology is. It will impact every part of our lives from enabling truly smart cities and developing new drugs to answering some of the most profound questions about the nature of our universe.”
