Let’s be clear, quantum computers are in no way designed to replace existing computers.
It is quite the opposite in the case of those designed by IQM, which is rapidly becoming the pan-European leader in the construction of quantum computers.
In fact, IQM is also building quantum accelerators for data centers and supercomputers as part of its plan to build Finland’s first commercial 54-qubit quantum processor. (opens in a new tab) with VTT Technical Research Center of Finland.
IQM has already delivered a quantum computer to the site, as Tech Radar Pro learned at Slush 2022 in Helsinki, Finland that the goal is to bring quantum computers to market within the next five years.
The mission of quantum computing is simple
IQM’s portfolio includes three products: quantum accelerators for HPC centers and supercomputing centers, on-site quantum computers for research centers, universities and government institutions, and application-specific quantum computers for industrial customers.
Ilkka Kivimäki, partner at European venture capital firm Maki.vc says Tech Radar Pro that these solutions can be used for positives and negatives.
“The downsides would be to break the encryption, to make effective weapons, to create counterfeits so realistic that no one can tell the difference between what’s fake and what’s real, because the computing power is enormous,” adds- he.
IQM is one of the first companies to be part of the geopolitical discussion about quantum computing from the very beginning, which Kivimäki says seems to give the company an edge over its competitors.
“The party that gets the ball rolling on quantum developments will have a big advantage,” he continued.
“Europe is big enough to have the expertise and computing power we need when we need it, because we are guaranteed to get it from Asia. Quantum computing and what’s going on around it is one of those platform technologies that once the first few things work opens up a crazy amount of white space, and there’s the landscapes of application and pending potential use cases. We haven’t even figured out yet what the most exciting things to come out of quantum computing are.
Get ahead of the quantum
IQM’s quantum computing facility once housed a government-owned data center filled with traditional supercomputers, which facilitated the transition to a quantum computing lab.
Its in-house lab is used to test its R&D products, and IQM has a 20-qubit quantum computer already operational at the facility in Finland, and it is used to solve problems and run algorithms.
Other quantum computers have smaller components used for internal IQM R&D, such as testing qubit designs, and smaller electronics that will eventually be used for future quantum computers.
It was music to the ears of Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin as she expressed deep concern about European countries’ know-how on new innovations such as quantum computers in order to avoid exposing themselves to become vulnerable.
“Our society is digitized and will be even more so in the future, and if we do not develop these capacities now and ensure that we invest in new technologies in digital solutions in Europe, we will create vulnerabilities which will be crucial to the future if there is a crisis over this,” the Prime Minister of Finland said on stage at Slush 2022 in Helsinki.
“We already have vulnerabilities when we look at semiconductors, we are too dependent on Taiwan for example. We have to make sure that different democratic countries build their capacity and invest in Europe and the United States and so on.
“We need to make sure we have the technological know-how to build on new technologies like quantum computers and not be dependent on China or other countries. That doesn’t mean we should cut all trade ties. or economic, but we have to make sure that we are not vulnerable to blackmail like what Russia is doing with energy.
IQM focuses on the hardware – building these physical systems and has successfully delivered the first Finnish quantum computer, which belongs to the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland. IQM delivered the 5-qubit system and is currently testing the 20-qubit system.
Finland’s prime minister went on to say that she plans to make sure the country doesn’t make the same mistakes with technology that have been made before with energy and medical supplies.
“We have to be open and honest in noticing the mistakes that have already been made. In Finland, we thought that creating these close economic ties with other countries would prevent war, because it would cost too much. However, we did not notice that Russian logic does not think like us,” she added.
“I fear that we make the same mistakes with technology and digital solutions. We must ensure that all trade problems are solved in democratic countries and not depend on authoritarian regimes.
What can happen to the quantum?
Using its proprietary method of extracting information from quantum devices, Finnish software company Algorithmiq has entered into an engagement with IBM to advance its exploration of quantum algorithms that attempt to solve complex problems in the life sciences .
At Slush, the company revealed that it would be able to demonstrate a useful quantum advantage as early as next year.
It is clear that these dedicated quantum processor manufacturing facilities will accelerate R&D and innovation and support growing global demand across a wide range of industries, and increase microelectronics manufacturing capacity to keep pace with dramatic technological changes. underway in national quantum programs and high performance. computing centers.
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