C12 publicizes that it just lately raised €18 million ($19.4 million at immediately’s trade price) in funding. Initially based in 2020 as a spin-off from the École Normale Supérieure Physics College Laboratory, the corporate is engaged on a singular course of for creating quantum computer systems primarily based on carbon nanotubes.
Though the idea of quantum computing will not be new, it’s nonetheless a piece in progress. Many scientific groups approached this matter from totally different angles. The purpose is to construct a quantum pc on a scale that may carry out calculations with a low error price.
However wait, why do we’d like quantum computer systems within the first place? Computer systems that exist immediately are primarily based completely on digital transistors. And we have gotten actually good at making transistors smaller so we will match extra transistors on a single chip. In consequence, computing energy has developed at an exponential price over the previous 60 years.
And but, present pc structure has its limits. Whilst corporations start to construct bigger information facilities, some issues merely can’t be solved with conventional computer systems. It’s also unclear whether or not Moore’s Regulation will stay in impact within the coming years.
That is the place quantum computer systems can turn out to be useful.
“If we need to create a mannequin—a complete simulation of a chemical response—to find out how new medicine will work together with our cells, it isn’t attainable with the standard strategy,” C12 co-founder and CEO Pierre Desjardins (pictured proper). ), stated TechCrunch.
“There are a complete vary of optimization issues that should be solved, whether or not it is transportation, logistics or manufacturing. They can’t be run on a daily pc as a result of there could be too many variables, too many attainable eventualities,” he continued.
Mathieu Desjardins, his brother, has a PhD in quantum physics and serves as the corporate’s CTO. At one level in our dialog, Pierre Desjardins even referred to as his brother a “scientific genius.”
And because it’s 2024, there’s even a synthetic intelligence angle that ought to persuade you of the significance of quantum computing analysis. “At present, coaching a big language mannequin additionally means spending an enormous quantity of vitality,” stated Pierre Desjardins. “And quantum can be a way of computing that makes use of a lot much less vitality.”
The best way to construct a quantum pc
C12 says the 2 fundamental variations from different groups engaged on quantum computer systems are that it makes use of a unique materials — carbon nanotubes — and has a selected manufacturing course of — a now-patented nanoassembly course of.
“At present, I feel we’re the one ones on the planet who management this particular course of, which includes inserting a carbon nanotube on a silicon chip. And what’s completely fascinating is the size. The diameter of a carbon nanotube is 10,000 occasions smaller than a human hair,” stated Pierre Desjardins.
Analysis teams working at giant corporations akin to Google, IBM or Amazon at the moment are specializing in a unique course of. Most of them use superconducting supplies akin to aluminum on a silicon substrate.
In response to C12, this methodology has resulted in early breakthroughs to this point. Nevertheless, utilizing aluminum will not work at scale due to interference once you begin including extra qubits. Though quantum will not be but developed, C12 believes it’s engaged on the subsequent era of quantum computing in comparison with these aluminum-based processes.
The corporate put in its first manufacturing line in a basement close to the Panthéon in Paris. On this facility, they produce carbon nanotubes, management these tubes, after which combine them right into a silicon substrate.
“Now it is up and working. At present, we produce about one chip per week, which we then take a look at in our mini information heart,” stated Pierre Desjardins. However do not anticipate to see a quantum pc simply but. “We’re nonetheless simply testing the basics,” he added. For now, the corporate is specializing in chips with one or two qubits.
Emulation of quantum
Because the analysis work progresses, the C12 group can be engaged on its enterprise ecosystem. Like many quantum corporations, C12 has created an emulator referred to as Callisto. Emulators enable builders to jot down and run quantum code on a classical pc.
They will not get the outcomes they might with a quantum pc, however at the very least they will be able to go when quantum computer systems change into obtainable.
“Now we concentrate on two verticals – the chemical business and the vitality business. The chemical business makes use of it to simulate chemical reactions, and the vitality business makes use of it primarily for optimization duties,” stated Pierre Desjardins. Specifically, the startup has a partnership with Air Liquide.
And if we return to the funding spherical, Varsity Capital, EIC Fund and Verve Ventures are investing on this; current traders 360 Capital, digital enterprise fund Bpifrance and BNP Paribas Développement are additionally collaborating once more on this spherical.
At present, C12 employs 45 folks from 18 totally different nationalities, together with 22 Ph.D. With the newly raised capital, C12 plans to signal extra partnerships with industrial companions. However the firm additionally has a analysis function.
“One other purpose is to carry out a quantum operation for the primary time between two qubits which can be very far aside,” stated Pierre Desjardins. By lengthy distance, he means “tens of micrometers” aside. It does not seem to be a lot, however will probably be key in the case of scaling quantum computing.
