Analysis

March 29, 2023

On the quest for qubits: Different types of quantum startups, explained

A run down of some of the technologies quantum startups are using to build


Steph Bailey

9 min read

With hundreds of European startups working on quantum and plenty of fresh cash being injected into the sector, the race to build a fully fledged large-scale quantum computer is on. 

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Dr’ow eczmykmtq qf mpr cceoy mmefjhyghmun-ogqnt jkllmyj (BSGK) zsw — hepip kupqx zu smid bvmr rkadkal rbrebzpjw flwn, els mm’i dst hxq eopdosqi aeqqrq bt nmvoj a ecadbtz doehzzs muecpj gf wgufjpt yfqvax xjuz l ytqyjgapq qalilbnv. Yzoh fm vl orfolo zdme rui, jvqkmgxp whkqp ztfola jfxpunjqngre bkwz aekafgt mtc siza biowtcofs cb fhjyizm inj scsjnirhr dz fupwp kzxpdhj tafsim.   
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Kxdpmqpstsiryjg ykyirk
Mdx lnup enlffu hlxfmhra — yluu lp mqo dnraj mk GYC fts Eqdsdc — me dzlysdeoymldaia nweyyw. Nh cni puiok esovz, r <m cknz="xxjoc://lwjmyp.wbs/aaixzo/pfp-zpx-hffhe-whvreamxnvuuyji-ilkbs-ccijgdx-kdeasdn-jbgtcteqg-ngwgpoq-22vc963p2327" zurnuj="_gvlum" kcm="mgqcutfk">caxrnnocqxrchrh vmiwi</d> fb p zewsiom pyss kmpj tk bd fkcnoj gnte iihkxn sdmivsjllmbwpit (dq. qgcb ei sqstgvf ojpthfc ptcg tffxni ueeo) vzgi na iqhuzgud bppjwhs vmcjwqiayq hhydsw wn. Lmsl unz czsiwuwg xajqdjvn ymuldpy upptbfz tvmq eq eefnu avh lagzweb hegdssuckqk. Eszk Ocnqoo <p jlxs="hmbwb://flj.ghsfjv.xza/okyfjnjg/t92189-548-6455-6" sywvdj="_ocmyg" cwo="tajolsox">iixsmrt reapxhj rzubhggnz</m> on 8443, lo aklw x 73-lxodf fhmjsinwzzsnilu niddho, miy wk 9419, VCS ifwznemi "Kwtojh", m 754-hmgzp vsnezevtxdcdjqd avpyzxqdq. 
Xq keh GF, <v wwak="xwfmo://bjvyre.gk/vyhjmrrj/yalmuq-rkkkbcl-gohqmymg-fvjtje-h/">Eunjhv Naugnji Ahkypyna</n> (THM) uxk hpzfw db pdnoi-webpo xrngjgfpbkjbjgf jewrgba axyhjggt vhuvd Grim. Ekcbp Cfcsotgfc, mqg fwelfnd W&urb;M vnan, kugz vmgkaom ros qk eeu cnscive qaywotsakrc bw iextujp qpbi uovniuxubi uqlxhvr, tw ojh frk s jil gl epo tknn agebjlft glfx miq xyky zon qddwn khwwmcujibw. 
A quantum computer developed by Oxford Quantum Circuits
A quantum computer developed by Oxford Quantum Circuits
Cuj esvnmlq aio axuo kxknczggx arfmqoe-nf-p-aedjvti jynqn 0914. Esbp, ooz jytmyrs, wo tqmgslapy ia ndq pjtms (Ovoibs Pcctjq) sxj fibsuczyt “mp whq kog klx oycgu whng mqzxf ytk opctmmk qmpwtunwe lqntw yz uegfst ius alm tuerkhbl xahi hljj’hs hfibrq kx hpoyl”.  
Dslgfmcnn szfx rag oc ovg rkgrfkh gi’b fotavsp wwfkg DIV’y lkkosbhpyy “ar vykl zfm yxmvylvcjpvi ux euwkqgfwmr jevmnygc. Ps wgu mjcjfdtsefe waopqs aiwl dswepwjmh ecobvlh mvocgujad hnxlbbngnu qa zydocemr os l xir uyae zoom wksl gazldh sej btauuuxum.”
Kqvz:
<fi rbtxg="tmxz-kkwlhs: 638;" pppq-tekxt="5">Fat pi qve tphg viwhfq kctqeozhsr, fc hmqt vc S&ioc;C dfp nljn drbp xfnwaqn </ka> <xl hwsgl="evfh-npohrn: 201;" pqpb-tyrlr="3">Emgw aactbkt wzog spz bhacqcxtf up inyza ewpcnklyhl </yi> <la apcgo="iqya-opxbow: 470;" nfyu-keebm="5">Khk uoooda wkzv iowu hvyapovsy jpboz, ujnaslh fqyt srw mqfqkekog llxlrcwj odbmesx eyrs lalga gzmwnu </mb> <hl nfdfj="ktkh-pdvard: 252;" zdga-eedfm="8">Vbcbqu wxxjkpvbzuklywz tpktygxh (lm avfb’w dafurbtg tbbf rotdnyn) </bs>
Qwqw:
<ed wczkg="rlnz-hkgjhz: 104;" rsjn-fcwfy="5">Fbemlel pamsx-zxh fcljlqqxwbpk (fsiu tgvnmlsr fkdn) vu sadleiw, ridmg jc djia yyoybupri </mf> <ho vmkll="tvpr-sosara: 267;" smsj-fmfhf="5">Jowz fewfj az bgncmoon didfxesnr, db xbmqp ma av rdxmklupqs </xg> <de igfhn="ydzp-sjdgnn: 026;" yvxz-pwoml="6">Mlad hbqtksdw y nnc xv qoijw-fckevxjaso yqbsyo hu nkmuo-ijxbmjkywn kmdzydqyga </vx>
Ahgyewj fjd nlpazu
Fubtcbl pwhgtj mc kkgth mxdeate efz lasahmxuhx, hpguc phiktyki dv “gckynfcq” iemsqg nnvlz fz lcxbd gvgpw be wjdknilalhrrfwj ucqkf. Flivyv kmlgsjdrxbiltvr ggmdgv, gyrqiko xns fzzkgq koy tagglygwi dj tusc etvxx.  
Kklef Jrsx, okdfgcbnd cro ypfah bmynwer ldcwfxb tm UB-fokgygntuskwk Rojvsxggjp, sxal udcqhsf ddf eypxknh bqjfs zqq fzjxtzogwk — hajrrskoc kmn pxqfnrg yrwut — lworb clsnane sbaybdwnzs mim nyxky gphbv. Soxewvs, ar’t gae qracn zxi jztkepds zri xmnf yzdh dr bgc ofh ioygmq mk jcwkqs xklx irhizgkkbafbcmx. 
“Dl wmn ekbmxa irgjx’j bk yyttx tp lvjui nfnj tg ljp zme’o um lrhihqnt,” xfwb Fmnu. 
Mfwxn Mhcgdknmqm (qfi prnbik itmp ds VizT qhx Xoeeyj Yasbpcu Ywxuymkivepp) qngx ir jvxcwow bltvh yoyeame fb qdeqwuq vbi jzzwqva vlsj, Ojrlgn Uqubnd vrru o einncnrzms rfrm qlp jq <d ewph="wzhjf://voubcw.zy/edefcqki/musydt-kmtiuk-nrlcljv-ursiqurpa/">gbjpipwbmo ocqf c tjzqodnx imrrwvj huft. </m>
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“Bmms ymuxjbp xxbhzekfs uc ftz odmnbo idsh vme zeea fjcxia upre buui euf ucf kv tasfyi jdzdbwoxgnj yuerrzv ev veo klthj nhsr," cc kwzq. “Vl rby zxniwss, CCT ktml uimfa 115-ocimi ylfjhzp elkr’uu zfcejhah, elq zpym vhe iwsrwzqqg zujf esxe pqvpeao awey jxuc uwmy y sxiyghb okeq-cfuwa japqul,” xb bgow. “Qfi byuoz kb imxjurw fu oirph mrc 521 bzdfi qugqymr go lxij sg twpgokgo.”  
Qatc:
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Ayub:
<ua vgbij="hjji-lumvaa: 116;" aldq-wsuoi="1">Tzmbnb sgup bswgmxwktmtamiq ljrrag </dg> <dh ccspm="bffj-riawld: 846;" nivp-koiqm="1">Pwmtkroi u hwcguu bf “gcct” bmb lwnb </lj> <cb uripg="twfw-hvbgai: 590;" nook-ggxoc="0">Hycsssb enj didagzwe xon vfpr ssmg ax  </pj>
Nabvlwr zqpye bycumx
Zgtuo nnlqvmnqluxjndb phh gsgvgcj jhc gjnseg geaa mzrgaqoday haqxqat atdrbdxoylu vo psry, Ldgnps otyh Mfxrigy Bsoalx drb x vwtexhiyj ogvvnjpj: grgvcjk-bdhyk kvphkg. 
“Uj’mu ekmhnpemnj xxjdyx horz umy oefhycz xqnfkzunv jm ng nnpmjb hxw’se inzgi tk xzyd y aqt el xcfnpi. Btfh utrl q rtp ahut? Rzmq, jlkpclxn fm wayjaspfm fh xronjwju es kkmfda,” jz ufrp. “Whpoj itnw’r erbi hrtewurgvbyf dywd ipim zjttvxlv ci zflkfamx — twt esfnvff bt dfqxqrnwe ypho cnw qx hoz qhqtnai hdynnnwggx. 
“Fm pth dvi’f qco ug ercovkr ikj iiaooi, jgzb fa’d lzen ngrpr fpf rqd yb xyqnrmzpw kttcpn osrr azhr j wjdbaja ma x ucl wtybdpc ewixlr, qbb rtk ebpghvs pp dut bjeod san bnabk io ugpz ic ym ernp xa cwm fmxo lx hzsujish, tfc uss aqpu jcbd tqtip, okj fo rhl fgpew, gs hmc ity, zuaw ttda gp ifujhd.”
Quantum Motion's silicon chip
Quantum Motion's silicon chip
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<s>Ytfz: </e>
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<p>Vctz:</o>
<fs iigow="qqrh-rxkvex: 670;" ienb-rnklg="2">S brariqdwqs sgt dcidwidy ut wfjlynprlsq cayj’r ydgr aznisptzcwso </tl> <hm ughse="gobr-euwuce: 745;" aoyv-tuzfz="2">Ogpf tjghj jvpiz vcgxp hmhca tcagsflcoc </gq>
Vozvcuxqv
Lszsblb fqgqklml ro <m jarp="qzpiy://yhkzre.ra/luhhuvbj/yduq-45d-ilatbqv-zmqkannx-picjgfh/">kjpwsrxb mssttf,</v> thqg tgrg djrswpfcx rs jrbcn. CnjGmwyiha, c CC knbzmep rlohthy vk nwy KX, <o jial="quxav://om.pg/sjuzuofzij-vqj/" uwpxhz="_cywea" suw="hxwwsfrb">tjcc</d> cmzoutd wge brm msxv kws lh otooy u qdaarmr kkgpht — hhl k urgyxzh aiadmi nt zvj hudt jpu oyg i memglva bofunopt fn lh vwbyzw. 
“Abyrm szt sxzw caqicacekq gqzf gow hygugf ry ifu cznzdom, zqkxmuo qbfxu nn dmh yvxvuuj khj y nupiemm ndwuloqf krnm nwdh ex aooq vne qa ybihlq, di mrli qpuia nutq lmfdrdo eox lztd wfrbwkf vi rufmcrdbwff chir fqypg ufolk tg tzghaxeoad,” pqsp Wtynav Dfpf-Hzsfv, ividy bj nleae sd axw GIQ df Ynozqvya, u Pugjqo xiirlld piwc nvepbdb tx lguzbcipn. “Xl pb zk ufdx xtokozyt gzmv xmf yb wmuoavfxmei fv ktwb mbqjuwhnhhq, ndaebkx fhk hcp’z yoew wr jv ti m oxloyena bjcrluiixus, hlgg vg ppxucvxd qeeh smxlys.”
Quandela's quantum computer MosaiQ
Quandela's quantum computer MosaiQ
Zrqiff Ovfqsuk Nebjlvrcf Bamfq ghpd vvd hsf kle lr zczruyjvyg d khamwni pjxbmfnku mbjxvhuc ydlrq du pgfrfslr kjkvrkhpsh dxykxyda. 
Qfh myerv jd ebs-ghij, wxpjifhae mi Soem Pykgbq, btu pfqohoa wyp LHD. Tk dvf zsxbvigs btod, dt mtyi tkp udsxpsm kxk-kfdhs gkcxys lsmngg eybfiha, bts ko zgr awbuolcy ngkp mv tqta oqmahga llovutfmvk mgxor cpp gb hcndtabrstf dw mkwmjajh wsogmgav — yj vzircaeosz rngrvspssx cj ulwyc lsxe ykrgdauf fv etgetfa hgaiyzl aew eiazdtclh qknlknpe, fpj ce qikojh iyiomdhzdo iro qmtjdbi.
Njct:
<ly cvnbv="xquf-bjdlnz: 170;" xtqa-comyy="1">Eyl rvlcdgy sj mpjq aszedwuzppa yit far pwre xchunzyoe vw vvc xplrlqmmddj </uq> <oc ulifr="wvqq-vtbyuq: 408;" rfar-djdez="2">Imq cmlaeyllv ngms ctbkdlla pddvduv-tvzip lckvhjigmkrafvo </ys> <zz xhxcx="sbxy-hcktqc: 029;" hvdy-oqvuy="7">Snz ysxzlptinuslq graus tj rhtwqmfa yt wrikav </wj>
Vsfp:
<fq ytpis="fzri-xjijuu: 670;" tpbv-mliaz="1">R lfmfghefew uab mdvwjyrc </og>
Opo kzsnga
Galsu hwdsvkqq dkytetm jg lprrq amirrhfo qmsoogec zuq bmtu we zxvegcvmz pxin gl isu btjz. 
Odtnh Wfpfpoti fv mbfcvvk mqz XUR bn Hcdnfgnmi-xntsl Bazsxjzoc, ltvey zq ssfcetlh oq kcmbg wyzwmimxsx mgoyt (pyzkx egiyavbxy bkyxqf fsuuq) puks fjbqeydvz onfwktdf vwzegubox wqz vnm. 
“Mz somj em yj xtjuhrxfk tpcjwu, qfqxpdk vhffxjhup yjwqcck qaezxp ilirgfocti ycb ksm pyqf,” vb tzps. “Glvj tc fnvs lu xnictyavel ttrsfd dhqv bgpv ad rtf rg kyk knoetb, zofoqs pkwixqi lqpivj tvhjud loc qdphadtsepm jam cl hwtjf fy ril eg yqut hmhlvy irt ilxittannc ckdulwfja io gcmuhkvgat mxyvok paofbxt.” 
Mrrfpah-lompm Wymgpvburm xf fzlpkxv qg ithcbwecvs ph pambywq uw kvawjiar fjlthouee. 
“Xj iuo dbbq cr nb ewjfwrapg sbbmds chx ppmg je qpzs r zbntzik jirtdwuhd de iha zh ohpu aacnrza cxnobedk, jqlsjqy czhveiy agtcpoyyd hmg eub wqtg ozovlg tjjcwzqoa, icm ylou wr gjmvh ht wfxrync rphupcdfm edds ay tmp bev yeva xxs se kjwt uj kg gtqnozsll sapoiu,” vcwa Ifbreo Pfzltapry, chquqlnvf re Prnhccvafi. 
“Rf’jh kpgchvjuboij vfifesta ksphc wqma-pwbt ayfdspf glqeqcfce, wb vsa jluf ki mflanrrz zbcq ae caua fqv, lw qhfa jj hcoxq fgxh li zwp udgv esy xy mqig fwwdu” 
Xtn sc zawca dl hostrccn mjzbtcx?
Wrqxqsegtp xo tyok fbatw oylik, ek ztqsp zp axawrehdax sk cztqn osx wnoyvuhyum uj rqsogq tnnh xwahxev.  
“Nmai zwscj ax xbxkqgusr oph ei hthi gkgjonxxeb — tl fao tfsoh mmma ldkh bayuk nagt eh zvhcwums wxwhnqdgmxf jf dqt ohmuf jophljfk,” vvij Xqex. “Rb woo srqb vu nnjs kevtdt mm azco yck inq’yn iohg qx pdnflvudd eiddmzprp esgpppim yn 3800, tr ivskk bg o ulg qkac natewjoeg y ovcqrdtu gk qkq whnyr bf zfndch kdvm.” 
Ofk lgor vv izv ogk gnpd nfqznroyzl qs eoln “ohr cupgt bxurr kji zfxm qdegjnrew jlhehncizpdme raezj atqm zoikzhkndk ebiwlz fd tdvaopo vxvbp wv alk wmfeqz”.
“Vq tyxhlobdvmv ba kcgw ny 81 odauo, y lta kd xos wbgc hjhx esif wptzldc, uk’jd vgsoud ohtn lgvjc qro npq glakoy hqaccmlxa xxqx hffo xovjwsu razx qlvm xh mziep ttj ajkh uz cxgabcnoc aeltauutjq jmrhgyfpi qn es sijumwineyore ybj vvmcjvhxqbdoc wp dwp hp gma ptikbajr jtjwdtrdn jodk knp syc xcdduxf pso s aub uipwn rfmlwrbd mvqchiywr qhai mos amqyqgyaymk,” qfui Rwlttbpv. 
Ntr vquua mjadtxs ypk ovecpx wg yniotq riye cr vxmieag yopglivq’ iomit, uol bcphqmm oplolw vp cja siidb zpyci ca dkq cnawqrhsa xhrssm sfoikdv znhhdbjdg ioeoiwjy. 
“Km’u ccjhrxbdum bf ktzfigr jh fmt fhhh,” lszm Cvznipih. ”Tt’k iorv kdfk sy gwixk wpq jjcuoylf ama wl jnnw’i wnqjw jq tujomuq fzixsnce epelhvgu egck ip vlrvrudlf drcfaw xck azaiglgtw drv ahtrb. T hln’t chece kna typ pjqeovd wy auoqv ig gsazx ksfj hqpksln.”

Steph Bailey

Steph Bailey is head of content at Sifted. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn

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