Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell unveil identity of new powerhouse
The world’s largest integrated quantum computing company – Quantinuum – has been rolled out by Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum.
The vision is to accelerate the development of quantum computing and innovation of quantum technologies in a platform agnostic manner to deliver real-world quantum enabled solutions for some of the most intractable problems that classical computers have not been able to solve.
Cambridge Quantum is a pioneer in quantum software, operating systems and cybersecurity. Honeywell Quantum Solutions, which has built the highest-performing quantum hardware based on trapped-ion technologies, has now completed all the necessary steps and therefore combined to form the new company.
“Quantinuum is now the largest and most advanced integrated quantum computing company in the world,” said Ilyas Khan, CEO of the new company and founder of Cambridge Quantum.
“By uniting the best-in-class quantum software available with the highest performing hardware available, we are uniquely positioned to bring real, quantum computing products and solutions to large, high-growth markets in the near term, the medium term and the longer term as quantum computers scale in capacity and quality.
“We are science led and enterprise driven, and our scale and global presence in this most critical of technologies will provide leadership in each of the key areas that constitute the ‘must haves’ for quantum computing to deliver real-world solutions to all our customers and partners.”
Quantinuum will globally launch a quantum cyber security product in December and later in 2022 an enterprise software package that applies quantum computing to solve complex scientific problems in pharmaceuticals, material science, specialty chemicals and agrochemicals.
It will also announce major upgrades to the System Model H1 hardware technologies, powered by Honeywell®, which has the highest measured quantum volume as well as industry breakthroughs that reduce errors –thereby continuing to progress credibly towards the development of a fault-tolerant quantum system.
In this regard, the H-Series quantum computers continue the trend of meeting and exceeding the deliverables that the company has previously committed to doing as part of its hardware roadmap.
Tony Uttley, President and chief operating officer of Quantinuum, commented: “I am thrilled to help lead our new company, which will positively change the world through the application of quantum computing. Our scientists continue to work hard to develop the best quantum software and hardware technologies available and I am excited to be able to offer these to customers on an ongoing basis.
“The next few weeks and months are going to be extremely active for Quantinuum as we increase the pace in deriving unique value from today’s quantum computers especially in cyber security.
“However, in addition to cyber security, our products will include solutions for drug discovery and drug delivery, materials science, finance, natural language processing, as well as optimisation, pattern recognition and supply chain and logistics management.”
Quantinuum comes into existence six months after Honeywell announced that Honeywell Quantum Solutions, its quantum computing division, would separate from the company and combine with Cambridge Quantum. Honeywell will initially be the largest shareholder of Quantinuum, with an approximately 54 per cent ownership stake in the new enterprise.
On top of this stake, Honeywell has also invested nearly $300 million in the new venture, ensuring that Quantinuum is well capitalised at inception. Honeywell will also be a supplier of Quantinuum, supporting the manufacturing process for the company’s proprietary ion-traps, as well as a customer of Quantinuum on various projects across its business units.
Quantinuum has a staff of almost 400 at inception, with offices in the UK, US, Japan, and Germany. Of those employees, approximately 300 are scientists advancing the development of quantum hardware and software solutions.
Quantinuum will maintain its European HQ in Cambridge UK and North American headquarters in Colorado. The company says it will continue to be entirely platform agnostic in its choice of hardware to provide total portability to clients and ensure the most effective performance for the problems being solved.