Quantum mechanics came around the 1900s to explain objects on an atomic scale and advanced into technologies like magnetic resonance, lasers, etc. The scope of merging quantum mechanics and information science came almost a century later, around 1982. Since then, computing based on quantum circumstances has been gaining popularity in solving complex problems that cannot be solved using standard computers. This is where quantum computers step in. Top quantum computers can leverage exceptional enhancements in specific types of problem-solving.
Quantum computers are equipped with a faster processor and a better memory capacity. While both classical and quantum computers aim to find solutions, they do so in fundamentally different ways by manipulating data. Where a standard computer works on a straightforward input-output process, quantum computers utilize quantum states, entanglement, and superposition to complex problems much faster. Additionally, conventional systems utilize binary encoding to store electrically represented data as “on” or “off” states. At the same time, “qubits” or quantum bits in computing exhibit unprecedented levels of parallelism and computing efficiency to operate simultaneously in several states.
This article lists some of the top companies that are into quantum computing.
Top Quantum Computing Companies
The following quantum computing companies have been actively working to harness quantum power and develop real-world applications.
- IBM
IBM Quantum is a world-leading quantum computing company that was the first to offer cloud-based quantum computing in 2016. The company believes that this emerging technology will one day resolve the most significant issues that even the most powerful traditional supercomputers cannot. IBM has over 20 powerful quantum computers, including Q5 Yorktown, Q20 Austin, Q53, and the recently launched 433-qubit Osprey. The company offers four plans: Premium, Pay-As-You-Go, Open, and Quantum Accelerator, for offering its comprehensive programs at scale with Qiskit Runtime.
IBM actively partners with other organizations to explore newer quantum computing applications and offers several certifications and diploma programs. The company also partnered with LG to explore quantum networking and enhance IBM’s quantum software development kit named Qiskit.
- Microsoft Azure Quantum
Microsoft is another quantum computing company renowned for its low-cost and robust infrastructure to leverage quantum computing resources. The company provides it via Azure Quantum, a single platform with a collection of its quantum services and resources from other companies like Toshiba, QCI, Honeywell, etc. Azure Quantum provides users access to Toshiba’s ISING machine, Quantinuum H1 powered by Honeywell, IONQ trapped-ion computers, and much more.
Users can get started with a free credit of US$500 and run it on the quantum hardware of their choice. On top of it, the company now offers credit up to US$10,000 for exploring new algorithms and integrating workflows with Azure Quantum.
- QCI
QCI, or Quantum Computing Inc., is a quantum computing company providing solutions to others by guiding them to the most viable quantum path/strategy. As per QCI, enterprises that embrace quantum power successfully will have a significant edge over others as they can transform their business/markets much more conveniently. QCI steps in to help vendors select the most appropriate architectures based on their requirements and at the minimum expense. Its photonic quantum computers can run anywhere and by anyone. These computers are equipped with Qatalyst, QCI’s quantum computing software. With this software, enterprises do not need any quantum expertise to harness the power.
- Intel
Intel is a renowned quantum computing company that is proactive in helping other companies achieve quantum practicality and transition the technology from its lab to real-world commercial systems. Commercial quantum systems need to scale to over a million qubits and overcome obstacles like qubit fragility and software programmability. The company is leveraging high-volume transistor manufacturing to develop more compact computing devices called ‘hot’ silicon spin-qubits. Moreover, Intel provides the Horse Ridge II, Intel’s second-generation cryogenic quantum control chip, for more robust integration.
Intel provides an “All Access” video series to educate people and give them a peak into its architectures in the quantum computing landscape.
- Strangeworks
Led by a quantum enthusiast, William Hurley, Strangeworks is a quantum computing company that delivers non-conventional computing solutions and an unbiased guide to all possible quantum strategies. Its solutions eliminate the complexities of accessing and managing multiple computing technologies by clubbing them into a single platform.
With Strangeworks’ platform, clients do not require new languages or frameworks to harness quantum power. Standard frameworks can quickly get the solutions up and running within minutes. Enterprises can schedule a demo to see how the platform works or get early access to their program to test the latest technologies first.
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- Bleximo
Bleximo is a quantum computing company exploring opportunities in pharmaceutical research. Quantum computing can exponentially harness data-preprocessing power, much more than classical computing. To enhance quantum computing-enabled medical development, the company is working on a “quantum accelerator” designed for single, specific applications. The company believes that concentrating on specific applications results in systems with fewer components, lowering capital and operating costs while boosting reliability. Bleximo designs systems for logistics and supply chains, operations, financial services, pharmaceutical simulation, and more.
- Xanadu
Xanadu is an emerging quantum computing company exploring photonic quantum computing. It leverages an all-in-one quantum computing cloud comprising hardware, software, and applications. Enterprises can access publicly available quantum computers like the IBM Q Experience, using the Xanadu cloud and PennyLane’s library of tutorials, tools, and demonstrations. The company allows free access to hardware, software, and educational resources for smaller workloads like Borealis and X-Series quantum hardware. For enterprises who wish to run more extensive jobs, Xanadu offers a ‘Flexible Tier’ (pay as you go) plan via Amazon Braket.
- Amazon
Amazon has been developing frameworks for a quantum computer to harness the technology that can deal with massive amounts of data within seconds, something that even the most powerful supercomputers take hours to do. Amazon’s quantum efforts are based on the AWS Center for Quantum Networking in collaboration with Harvard University. The tech giant entered the quantum sphere in 2019 with Amazon Braket, its first quantum computing service that runs quantum computing algorithms on AWS.
In addition to Braket, Amazon’s Quantum Solutions Lab undertakes several joint research programs with renowned universities and specialists to devise high-performance computing solutions. The lab works closely with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). In 2021, AWS also established a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
- D-Wave Systems
D-Wave Systems is a quantum computing company focusing on “quantum annealing,” a technique in which the global minimum is optimized by analyzing quantum fluctuations. The company believes all physical systems tend towards their lowest energy states, as do quantum systems. D-Wave has over 20 years of experience pioneering the technology and uncovering numerous potential applications of quantum systems in drug discovery and material sciences.
The company offers a cloud-based stack of systems, software, developer tools, and services to help organizations build real applications using the Advantage quantum system and the Leap hybrid solver.
- Toshiba
Toshiba is dedicated to delivering world-class cyber-physical-system technology to enterprises and aiding in protecting confidential information. It offers Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to secure network-based communications. QKD is a technique of distributing digital keys that secure sensitive data from banking, defense, healthcare, and other systems. It is based on encoding each key onto a photon sent over an optical cable. As the encoding changes on every attempt to read the photons, the secrecy of each is maintained.
Toshiba offers two variants of QKD, the Multiplexed System, which operates on data-bearing fiber, and the Long-Distance System, which offers a greater key rate and range.
