Why quantum deserves your attention

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Author: Dr Mohammad Choucair, CEO Archer Materials

If I say to you that quantum computing represents the next generation of powerful computing, does that seem realistic? Will it happen? Or is it simply the dream of theoretical physicists? 

I believe that quantum deserves our urgent attention today, not in some distant future. There are huge, long-standing and intractable human problems that need solving urgently – that would take too long to solve using existing technology.

Quantum computers could contribute to the highest-impact technologies for managing many of these problems: streamlining financial systems, designing new lifesaving drugs, redesigning how we power transport, how we build houses, cars, ships and planes, how we manage change between humans and the environment – and in particular; redesigning materials and industrial processes to combat climate change. 

Quantum 101

Before I get into the how, I wanted to share a video with you, your quantum computing 101 guide.

Impacting every sector

Quantum computing will impact every sector that is currently dependent or will be dependent on computational power. As we become more data and mobile-centric, it will change existing businesses, create new businesses, and change how we do business.

More fundamentally, quantum computing will change – for good – the very way we as human beings transact and communicate with each other.

Quantum computers can do this because they can take in and powerfully process vast amounts of data and then quickly and accurately test and model complex systems.

It’s incredible what has been achieved in the quantum ecosystem to date. The future is exciting when you consider that current technology roadmaps involve a track to exponentially more powerful machines over the next few years. But getting there will not be easy. Make no mistake, though; there will be demand for this technology once it is widely available.

Reaching quantum’s full potential 

If we want to realise the full potential of quantum computing, there are technological challenges that must first be overcome. The goal of widely accessible quantum computing is only going to be achieved by developing new materials technology – this is because materials are the tangible, physical basis of all technology. And the materials at the heart of quantum computing processors – often called qubits – determine their accessibility and how you use and access quantum computing powered devices.

As researchers and developers continue to scale quantum computing, solutions have been engineered to enable qubits to operate at temperatures close to absolute zero – around minus 273 degrees Celsius – however this requires a significant footprint to achieve an maintain this environment.

And that is our focus at Archer.

Quantum on modern-day devices

We are at an early stage of building a qubit chip, called 12CQ (pronounced one-two-cee-que), that, once completed, could allow for both use at room temperature and integration onboard modern-day mobile devices. For quantum computing, this is an astounding proposition.

It’s challenging work we are doing, and our progress thus far is about where we currently need to be. But we are realists – and we know that success is not driven by a single development or by a single idea, and we also know that alone it would be very difficult for us to succeed.

That is why the global collaboration enabled by the IBM Q Network is so important, so valuable, and we’re proud to be a part of it. 

At Archer, we plan to use IBM’s open-source Qiskit programming software stack for our 12CQ qubit chip – so we can accomplish our goal of enabling practical quantum computing applications.

We see great potential in the opportunity for consumers and businesses to have a fully functional quantum chip in their mobile or computer running using Qiskit. Each technological milestone we achieve at Archer, no matter the perceived size, is a crucial step towards this goal, and IBM is helping us get there.

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Watch the keynote replays from Think Summit Australia & New Zealand here.