Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Prometheus (Building the first 1,000-qubit quantum computer to restore Europe’s lead in the second quantum revolution)
Reporting period: 2021-08-01 to 2022-10-31
Quantum computing is a disruptive computer technology with the potential to revolutionize information processing in the same way quantum science revolutionized physics a century ago. The goal of Prometheus is to develop the first commercial 1,000-qubit quantum computer to restore Europe’s lead in the second quantum revolution by representing the order of magnitude required to run first commercially viable quantum algorithms and to implement error-corrected logical qubits. Once quantum algorithms and quantum error correcting codes are implemented, quantum computers should be able to solve real-life problems beyond purely academic interest and start to move from the lab to market.
During the project, IQM established the foundations of the quantum computing technology enabling early market entry and building the foundation for scaling the technology for the future applications. With the starting point of an access to a rudimentary superconducting qubit technology the project demonstrated the advancement into a full quantum computer technology stack. The stack builds on an in-house designed and fabricated quantum processor, and includes supporting hardware and software to operate, benchmark, and execute quantum algorithms. The results include prototype 5-qubit and 20-qubit quantum computers benchmarked with fidelities comparable to the SoA, and demonstrated operation in quantum algorithm execution. The work paves the way to further scaling with 54 qubits in 2023, and setting the roadmap towards 1000 qubits. The technological advances enabled to initiate the go-to-market strategy based on providing quantum hardware, in the first phase, to research institutes and high-performance computing centers, and laying technological ground for reaching the quantum advantage.
The technology builds on IQM’s qubit-coupler scheme with the demonstrated 2-qubit gate fidelity of 99.8% [F. Marxer et al., https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.09460]]. The implementation of the scaled-up processor technology furthermore utilizes quantum integrated device fabrication methodologies which were significantly advanced during the project. As a result, quantum processors based on planar and 3D-integrated chips and modules make it possible to scale up the systems while maintaining the quantum-coherent properties. Along with the high-end solutions for system integration, including cryogenic infrastructure as well as control electronics and software, state-of-art full quantum computer products were enabled. The project work has in part motivated establishing significant facilities supporting the R&D and production. This includes IQM’s clean room opened in 2021, which is the only fully private fabrication facility in Europe concentrating on the fabrication of superconducting quantum devices. Overall, the economic impact enabled by the technology development has been significant. In the course of the project IQM has grown from a fresh startup with 36 employees into a category leader of superconducting quantum computing technology with offices in four countries (Finland, Germany, Spain, and France) with a total of over 200 employees. IQM has also been successful in securing investment funding. During the project, Series A funding round was closed, totalling of about 167 M€ [link]. The societal impact has been complemented by significant media coverage and interest raised among top decision makers in private and public sectors.