In a big step towards building a commercially viable quantum computer, California-based startup, Rigetti Computing is launching the world’s first multi-chip quantum processor. The new processor is based on “a proprietary modular architecture.”
Rigetti will provide a 80-qubit system based on this multi-chip modular technology on its quantum cloud services platform later in 2021.
“We’ve developed a fundamentally new approach to scaling quantum computers,” said Chad Rigetti, founder and CEO of Rigetti Computing in a release earlier this week.
The modular approach of this “breakthrough” technology will lead to faster commercialisation as it allows future systems to scale in multiplicative ways rather than in an additive fashion. It addresses in an elegant fashion the particularly tough challenge of scaling in quantum computers, according to experts.
Rigetti manufactures its chips at its California-based captive foundry. The company owns and operates Fab-1, the world’s first dedicated quantum chip foundry.
“Our proprietary innovations in chip design and manufacturing have unlocked what we believe is the fastest path to building the systems needed to run practical applications and error correction,” the release quoted the founder-CEO as saying.
The company is focused on building next-generation system architectures which include individual chips with increasingly more qubits as well greater linkages between chips for larger processors.
Founded in 2013, Rigetti Computing is a full-stack quantum computing company and an early entrant to the quantum hardware space. The superconducting quantum computers that it builds and delivers over the cloud are optimised for integration with existing computing infrastructure.
Last year in August 2020, Rigetti had closed a $79M Series C financing led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Franklin Templeton too had joined the round with participation from Alumni Ventures Group, DCVC, EDBI, Morpheus Ventures, and Northgate Capital.
The company is also leading a 10 million pound-consortium to accelerate the commercialisation of quantum computing in the United Kingdom. The consortium will build and operate the first quantum computer in the country.
