European quantum computing hardware company IQM, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University have announced the start of joint cooperation on quantum computing, focusing on research, exchange of know-how and development of quantum hardware.
The cooperation will provide researchers at Hebrew University, led by Prof. Nadav Katz within its Physics Department and Quantum Information Science Center, which he heads; and at Bar-Ilan University, led by Prof. Michael Stern of the Department of Physics, with commercial-grade quantum-computing hardware developed by IQM.
“We are excited about this new collaboration with IQM and have already measured several consistently high-coherence IQM devices in our lab in Israel. This is just the beginning of a productive and fruitful joint venture,” said Katz.
Researchers in both universities will conduct experiments using IQMs hardware and further advance scientific development in the quantum computing field.
IQM COO and cofounder Dr. Juha Vartiainen said, “We are very happy to be working with both the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University, and look forward to a fruitful long-term scientific and commercial cooperation. This announcement aligns well with our strategy to provide commercial-grade quantum-computing hardware to global research groups.”
The initiative will also provide testing for IQM’s qubit (quantum bit) technology and experiments based on its hardware.
This long-term cooperation is expected to result in significant scientific advancement in the field and help push academic research forward, as well as help create product innovations.
This initiative highlights IQM’s new strategy of providing its customers and partners with direct access to hardware components.
Vartiainen said, “This cooperation is also a significant milestone for our cooperation with the world-class quantum ecosystem in Israel. As quantum computers develop further, the know-how developed in Israel, for example around machine learning and quantum software is going to become more critical in the future.”
The cooperating parties also aim to extend the collaboration toward building full-stack quantum computers for scientific and commercial purposes in Israel.
Bar-Ilan’s Stern said, “We are proud to take part in a study that places Israel and its universities at the forefront of the global effort to develop quantum computers. The road is still long, but I believe that we at Bar-Ilan, together with our partners at the Hebrew University, will succeed in achieving groundbreaking results.”