Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) is launching the UK’s first Quantum Computing-as-a-Service (QCaaS) platform.
The UK startup, out of the University of Oxford, says its Coaxmon technology uses three-dimensional architecture, rather than 2D circuits, that simplifies fabrication and improves coherence of quantum systems, which it claims boosts scalability. The company said its QCaaS platform will be available through a private cloud, where it will be used by partners and customers to “further experiment with quantum.”
“The launch of our QCaaS platform is not only a remarkable achievement in the history of Oxford Quantum Circuits, but is a significant milestone in unlocking the potential of quantum computing both in the UK and globally,” said Dr Ilana Wisby, CEO of OQC. “By making our QCaaS platform more widely available to strategic partners and customers, we are offering the world’s leading enterprises the chance to demonstrate just how far-reaching quantum will be within their industries.”
Quantum software and security company Cambridge Quantum will be the first to be given access to the private cloud to demonstrate its IronBridge cybersecurity platform. The company will be given access to OQC’s 4 qubit Sophia system, hosted at its lab in Thames Valley Science Park, Reading.
“We are excited to be working with OQC on their first commercially available product,” added Ilyas Khan, CEO of Cambridge Quantum said. “Ilana and her team represent the very best of breed in the hardware sector in the UK and this bold launch of a quantum processor by a company that has very much been in stealth is a reminder of the depth and diversity of the UK’s quantum technologies sector.”
While OQC is the first company in the UK to offer access to quantum systems through the cloud, a number of companies globally are offering similar commercial services.
IonQ is offering access to its 11-qubit system through Google Cloud – ahead of Google’s own hardware – as well AWS and Microsoft Azure.
IBM offers access to more than 20 quantum systems housed in a New York data center through a cloud-based web portal. The company says 150 organizations currently have access to its quantum fleet via the cloud. Big Blue has also begun installing on-premise quantum computers – it recently delivered one to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany and is due to install one at the Cleveland Clinic medical center in Ohio. It is also due to deliver another system to its own facilities in Japan in the coming months.
The University of Innsbruck recently revealed it had developed a quantum computer that can fit into two standard 19in server racks, accelerating the potential for simpler on-premise deployments.
