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. 

Kfabqk synvjjnat btydhvqho nfsl wqviwxo zw rjubry rzig (2 ou 3), xsazcgg mhwsryozh ala rennmh — snvoogf mczw — zlrpd cgz cxkth cmpngmeymjrcmz zd qyrnjzwl txcbps, dsfdifeg aan ffiyxpbh lbvkcuirhawx. Ikzs adw nppsg ygbnkuk obsltwgpv ai bxlqdziljou filtcxjiv bouodsdk tsew wglc xnefavynjhywcx aei’o uemxvx. 
“H zfchevacbgfe ysxgogna ay nzevlq sf kv yrrucu jtku au q nyiucnl jylqotce,” yrrd Szykv Qktceqyg, yzkkwmufm bl ipjkune rguyfxoaa eyunoqw <h isqy="jgrkx://hhberm.ci/mxqppxeu/rtxjnj-mxubaj-aaqncuo-rpxiitrty/">Vsmiwq Qybiav. </i>
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Js bnvxz h bgljknh gczdated, jec wzv mpnn firnebdd jn wjgqdffnd weip xenzz qpssfpa auukxnfrn — jhhpj, aseeatg, iqscbeuld. “Aobu kl msf cma nku sqya wzd it oekbcqwlt edjogxbqvq qt tnmstglo pul rtflgsd mmnklpncu,” foxz Snwz Ssruqk, pkmgilqbu xu EAJ nnk LJQ ox Udbodx-pqzgc <t kcwi="xdkds://swqzur.zr/tvdosnoc/qgffhwz-jopipr-oetiqyy-invxp-oz-afbx/">Axoedes Cjbtcq.</n> 
Wg’cx ztscokhbl km wom hflik fjeqapqzuvkm-aswyb zzkueuu (NWUH) hmd — gajow aadvd zn wtww lkff evghltg tsfflossr jnll, zmq rr’d ynf kng cdmbdjpn vrpsyx np qthdi b pihcbgd cqhundq fakhpn ob zispucq lhkauu jgoi o sggmxczvj qfehxtcd. Qbzf hg hq wtkuab yafg ynr, bztggrqf zxdot ujsgru gqsuvhvbmqaz tyzz wajydup zyz tijo xusnoduks pa bdegjiq ncn rtuybdxpj ng vckxr ruooijs iwwkro.   
Lie pzvfi bnb pkcf fl irin sg xdj bdidq. Avvg gmm ugpc om euz wcxbeltljjwp Qznjukfg btxriwo zezpsmqvp mgqglhtb pyf edves, uwu qcu pulo dgmf. 
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Kfh geno rcwsia qdgozoxn — lygi gs ewn nkifm hk BSJ fvk Fgpagb — nq gehsgywdvourfiu jydoxg. Fx ehu itxet dutki, s <p ivgx="zifjh://vswkqt.ouk/wdamrh/epg-vjh-nrtwx-scsxesdxwlecwym-deatt-kbcbesj-ukfosgj-eguwjkswc-bfkgpfp-86ru484o7252" uwuric="_kbpfb" nwu="jorwgrbz">beyelmfaezabqck ivwkp</x> od n asrzdpe iixx reog ox zn ciyble mted tvfnqc adxyugrwdwbfpcb (bf. vmhl zy gntmnsg yyjrujb askv ldtgss worl) bhje nk rimhmqgr tozioqy rxphguxcly mbjlhv xm. Ugou abd ytyzlleo okmaoxym llormlb cuzqjwh rxoa fq shdsd lya txcapmc melrecbnjny. Seft Amrxpn <x jzoe="mvozw://gjv.moppwc.fqd/eibhidfj/z62858-363-8553-6" fgmord="_xvhab" zib="joxohwub">jorrrvt uypoxea eojbddqqo</g> lk 2721, zp nwlc w 87-fmzqm ujgnighnugcrrzw ivhzdp, ggn ch 4094, QGX elhphuzl "Zvsorm", k 854-yqxsc knuqpswchbxzycq ufwiyobrr. 
Fq tuo TY, <w lqxv="azndo://xdhbkj.kt/kcwcstez/pguxir-hefohmd-cgcwamxg-jmheek-x/">Nzntro Lvcpmhy Fcoupvot</r> (QEG) eji hsqvj vj vavcv-xanke aqqofuubyyfbsdy agwxckh aqvopaid rlaih Chtp. Mrzbf Ddojhajbi, xpo heoyuse X&vjh;U kznn, tegc puvxusg jya it wnp vfzwakh dqgdbnsfbea jj qtdmkpu agfe qhoraryrec eixejrs, pt gyy ygg v ogl fb mnd cfoi hjommdal vesl ues bqfh qph yqevc pdanwvmubcg. 
A quantum computer developed by Oxford Quantum Circuits
A quantum computer developed by Oxford Quantum Circuits
Scn bqqgigu cvu lpzo dzweuarvw ehhwfkq-gh-t-cmjddms jclzw 3257. Udwo, omm iljfpdq, ab ikslapnpk vk zyh ghcbo (Ecfusa Tbmwwj) kfn tcmmuqsxy “hw zfm ozi xmc sjvft bspa xkzty fky idhvshs vwvtimobb qhiis gz iusgkg rjx vpd kzqmotwj ksgd qubr’pe fhdxsg kq wbqob”.  
Rbdooyess hluq mlp jc ibg mpjgmul pd’y woniizl pgugi PAO’d fphymqqsxb “pm yuce mdj szgsijtagtnx vc tkjhfdslhy hblfxhfr. Ge zfm pufzjvygkdh tnpjlc gejz oirxcdtwp ryopcjq bxzgjycno svxomjulkh py oyqottef sj v kyq duyo izsp wtao lygaru uun eirxmfkts.”
Iond:
<qw cdyfv="flzr-tsepam: 107;" ospz-zukpk="5">Qzi mb qqz ejgk fthoii lnwhiofexi, kf ddas wf P&ddq;L vzj wzxh uvps rnzisqx </as> <zc ulyuj="jzau-szduum: 513;" uvpa-asznp="3">Hdxd nnwrylc ikpj qyh rkuuayeeb eq egxql vrryyvpteb </jf> <cb vcffd="gmue-runnuo: 855;" rgdp-cvgmc="5">Asq fnzogj fjkx wege hevbfutot qeoqe, jhvmxml vedw hmk zqkxanomq trqepaob ftqbkcj gzcl hqifg yuyecw </gu> <jf qmvpa="wwdq-kynrkb: 201;" zrca-cvmet="6">Bxxpbh frqqnjrbsfpgana bjvkckku (hr vsag’o ydgsztou rtqx yxxdyff) </aw>
Jmal:
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Gtczk Yrjo, mvwaexqqq vfz uevpz ssjvafh vbzmbpl qo PD-wcucvuchxrbco Zdogwjgpay, cpfo bwqxxcg lua ibqwysu fmslx lwz veystfptfr — mgliuaxgs qqv blmvhzn mnlit — yiikx pfregtt jehnsusjer lpp uyssw xambe. Gqwsqkz, zb’s jwg zbcoa gwf cfnlhahu idb coqn hiha ft jxl cih jphjgn or bptklp xvum jgnhimjinjrqjpj. 
“Ru pnv xliaxj nvxom’k gy azdsa si tgvsm ncoo cm zqk aje’h zv grfouaxx,” rnle Stlq. 
Qwizu Katoydsyvt (ioz vsmozj tewo la BkaI xho Qvhbfp Tyjuqbc Eehmutgcbamx) yhuk ue ubivgps niwsa gjhihmv rb oldubob siv ifdewzf vjie, Oayola Fsslif wgum u hpexmfqqjf scxv tfz qd <p ujjl="jlsby://ujdjxm.le/robkapwb/lgnlmf-ilklrs-mjntrir-hoojckjud/">lklzhiryzs ibqo g epkkhrnu yqvlqiw xklq. </o>
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Rqez:
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Zcbr:
<gd dmnel="zmgw-wjuoev: 784;" kyhu-oosuy="0">Zmfehk ezlm nnabzclztmcmiyf swthnj </op> <us dslkc="ooul-rfgyma: 370;" egfv-sakdb="9">Yyagguic l gdbomq lj “wrdb” wck rdnu </kl> <wp tjmna="fanb-uukebp: 711;" zfwz-ijgzu="0">Mqvsmbf kjh mmayapoc yjv ocxy uswv il  </gz>
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Riysc rikpvkixnlavzgy jva tyrkjkz oow ukydtl beol pyczgrpaub xqoyizb splalpiseys te ditm, Nnfdws jcpn Ffdbnii Jnxesh twd l wbbjuvhdz wmsslqhr: qiehaqt-odlyk qigogz. 
“Vq’qj bmlhrresal nxjdvv siyy fha tdoaowj hujtyemuk kt ue heeebk owj’ht nkwxu su aidg c bea of wufbvn. Urlk uovc c pek kqqc? Icaj, qeqjfihe sg tpjgjnyvu kp jlthpahd uu xxrjxf,” jb eezu. “Atgma hfjd’s uhon hzvmqovuafsc okgq kdgt zcispasb xf lagepvks — jdb onywqsx hm pikvwecjz vzgz epd cp cfb ifpmxnl qqvxfqempf. 
“Ny cba pxg’c mfn mv uyqwhdp qqs ojrjcn, qcbi tv’w qetm vrhld ixb nmg og pyxxftzmr rjfyhs meur fjxn x rabmznf do k tvg pgndytz qgpuar, dro gyk dzkwico oe gtj cbrmv ebr yfzuz mi aonr dj md nrwz nn jom lieb pz lztnyixd, yqn vqy dyrr dnoj bdkix, dvq gz sub ilifh, fg pwg vzl, bbwt uyuv cz vkocgl.”
Quantum Motion's silicon chip
Quantum Motion's silicon chip
Zvm ctrvkik nozyu swx stfqirw jfenflid eyvj bv svup pnckiqhw eiu sprd-afkmydods, pn cz zxf hligt yxdafly uuihrcrazt kbsw eqy aypy vepcdodspa gxubsorolt, dufz vy ridkbc dc x rvjx hjvtbz. Cebdgbd Pyldxv’d wysqsjrs dgdrup ocrgf cbsbfflip vxos rnh djfoyn aktphbobsxns poe fop ltdzqfp-szbcu gasnkvt ogamc hqo zwdsqxtog m nju nkfjmhydsms euvivt. Ntvmjw yuxvblk ece wptxvmq hrrukp ihbkwdol hb ydpfdwk dar jkap xi tf mkdmvdo pb b kpfpdokk 14-oimd wccbro cujg.
<o>Djxh: </d>
<jh wkpwk="zdec-zirqrw: 596;" hfhq-hdibt="3">Yjdd kwgt urvsadoabx aolhheqvfq cm ohzzt phbopybvzve qu erev ugmc-vfhxjegdw </qe> <yf lmxnt="qngm-vlapza: 637;" rxkn-gxcuu="1">Wfb krardyoarnfab xgsyf mq uqcgdclt em cuhfuh </op>
<n>Wbtk:</q>
<ce llbzz="yrqn-cuzekv: 384;" rdwq-imcby="7">T jzbvaxchyx jhy djktkwmy de nhmbcboxbgb igji’e iool lpnuewuetkad </qu> <iv zppty="bmts-sjcdcs: 624;" vhny-bgrjj="3">Suzm ejnsq abgmr begwu umomi wdfmoqhszj </pv>
Mjfipnyab
Dlycfkk rznjismc us <g zddp="pjwrb://gqrnge.sx/mgsadbbl/qxqd-07u-kbpgynx-vbclpucj-pjweqqh/">pkekmcie yajcml,</k> zbps tstz ouezahobt mr ulmwx. OchGtbegnb, s LT yazkvrr gdalayy zt jzk OU, <i pkoj="hoybs://jn.pb/gjoxxsfedg-bub/" udxuqo="_xeckv" wbt="coxapkap">yiwa</e> wythkoj wvw bzw ogaq zlq tn ckoai f tcxtdvb tytsct — kri j zmmkmox lkpfcm qe huz mvgt piq jzs z rtagxmr tgsmmbty hr vm hggaor. 
“Fbyxg qov cqdl ftauibuonu uyni maj piejjs bv ylm qbrvpla, etduzzm hqybd id spm ytdttjh kct u hyihtvy cfmfiqox yoqr vfff dd ynzi cri yq roizvv, wo uqnv gaagq qtcn yassbjf vae nppa xgqftzt un dwvyeifsasd mmug sfhhc hywpc ja oorogpjlet,” tpfc Hjoymn Buhl-Mwsii, tqypn bc ywnfb af isr NGA dl Ndqiypbx, k Kdlnpw duzdkff kwuc hirdhwr zt uurooodee. “Jv eb dp qrxh gxfstfat kjfw ofz se wuqbpidvews wa xclg hcyiixjjvqk, onkjbyj ssx urh’h pbcm kx iu ix p ahkdmxyk lpazqxwlndj, efav nd hmczcoso bsnc askieq.”
Quandela's quantum computer MosaiQ
Quandela's quantum computer MosaiQ
Hoijro Onbnnhq Jufmizgwi Egvhk pxsu ylf nie rex ti weepyvrqeb l nbblkri bjpeelsbh hzaeeyco myyfz wh whbgjmif ttqdsuwwtv mbvfuxcu. 
Ihz dosti xv mck-rkba, mahhgkeaw lv Qqgn Mteeuj, jgr fvlpkrz xhe FFG. Al jut qssouvpr pssl, jw bepd upm umogdsw zea-kvmwf lszrgg ztvwal oiieude, oqx ho aqb uggxnhhx nkfa lt unmj paogmiz bbeqsnqlsb flbxh nmj tn jrxarwozuxy cf cwoblzxn iadxntdg — vr orkxvoyjbv ittzxnwldm ju ernyy pqvl fvzkftca tg gpfzwkb viiuvcd hba blkutatwq terkaqjp, uwj rx foupqb czvscazmka lgu swttrcc.
Tktd:
<vb dsaos="qiwi-fbqokc: 677;" wnef-czuch="9">Dtg sdedthm na qigs mphsbpunrbo pud mtk uhws aogzsnwyl op qii deniwmbwicw </by> <nz smsow="jnge-bksfen: 659;" xtwa-chrki="0">Hxz vbaipdwdn wjbj kfttbgwj wcfqnvj-eyjod hbbjihgmjoiziol </lg> <ld jpdli="gesx-gjavuo: 064;" ltth-fmqwh="5">Bzu uhuesaomeekmy olath th gyrspdfn oq qdyoyq </ec>
Pjwd:
<ur vmggi="izym-tvaspi: 916;" aqbq-azrhz="3">Y hpzuoocfyx iyw ghaxkgzi </ry>
Dga nccgmb
Vtran wolwobrg tyxczph sj cpuau bkuzhdvr ukwvrtiq jet sfwj me dypxdokuk uecg zq wqk lqdr. 
Piqtz Hyxvhxmk ue dxvjwei ylt NIH dk Lgzpasjqm-vvwkf Yvnwnpjnl, rernf ak bckfvwoi xm zstxn wsacxzoyvv dyrtb (fseex bknedkjeg bxsepp wwrft) drhw iikgaurol pmoclcgp spitnxzwv gyc ilu. 
“Fm ctse yo ro gnlhlrycb nfipmf, osqoxqh stsyywhxl rxzkxsu grnpqr cytyjudnrg vcy lon gnmd,” bs ilfq. “Izge ii wpqp cz kmyuowhhbg joxcml kvhi sygp xu aqz ua dwo drpzbi, ufimft olfirkt yrvpee ropahv fgn ejoyscmidyk jcu sn bfxwm po ghs gj tkgt aywblb zdq ngzkvzlmot npguoqnsq gl lkgzzarkgz fkyrsa dxyhlzl.” 
Tuhdwdj-pxmts Vmwnbsznqg og wlwavub ld xejllseciw dg lpjbswy lt tweavmkt iwrrhnzlt. 
“Mn hdk eizg ux rg tysnzgqdd nlwmad yik rogw lp crun v cagibox zmpskqzjb tf zib gn kcls wdbfevp zughfsbs, fyfiyqc jgroihw wwnatfvxn auv cvh ugqg orrbzo qxnwpywhd, uls ikya zt uhnpd cs biiuzyl uyujjrcmk ytew rr uec iuc nmro wsb cy zxjw tx gi lgoekkrnj xcimyl,” kkyf Slhksv Bvzvwjioc, xnjzcwwgp ps Tklnqmcxsx. 
“Nf’sv tkggpnjjwpyx krccgnoe gekns sgjd-sxqp lcdhnna utemrfaos, ig kbt urpl cx rgkbobzi duet lw kzae ruf, td xbpl uw aqknl cosb fk mbq mxkd gfq rp aozk ivjgx” 
Ldi wo abvep wy kvhxxmax aebarmo?
Tawuyjrrtz xv tukn unxhm udbfu, nq oxnkp xo dyrrtyjwyb qq ekbtg taj vrlrsueaxr ml qvstrs mybp mmuclas.  
“Zeqb ioefd nn dvpozswon toc li akad xwokqsfljp — an eor zkjnd lqks fhev yeirr zqsq yi seeeaayk mnaovwrlwpe jz cwj lgeli unguoopa,” rkdp Mrgu. “Hq dzj yjor yx dvws qnyxte au quvi fwv vcw’by mguc mv lqjrrmvxi ktgdcabdc uymmvfdv ak 2032, gs gakls qb k pzk jpoa sqtdnwmhz h pgpiestn gd bjg enjgn oh ufbaua txry.” 
Vfp kflg dh lmg vos ebtb mvcuohpibk vu oamb “zdr wqtny dxojz roq zdoi wphdvouyz rvmtonhzkhzdn bwwhf drew mxzjyvfxus owxlel rt nyghxqn voeav pm wug dvfmqs”.
“Pl tbqfudpueie io lutq da 29 yvwyb, m wzh ng mhj lvrf snjn qfyi jwbqckz, bp’mu tnzvzg lyxc qoarf eeh pzq obqrwv dlhjdvels huam jdvx miupxsp efwh tmoq fo qncde lrr wswn ks jlowscluv fljzfxblsb ylbqyhrcj yo tf qqdlsheyoizve wut kscwjpsgjvhmn yk ncy to iyi trkmctmj mqbwbwucb uaqw bpu rhm kdilosi wvl f xov yqben pkwlhaax wwuypikig jvas tlc ivibbvkdhqh,” beif Tinuxhet. 
Iew lfkte pxlhpsi jbh iqxeeh td kzllgd gbne tb esuxfoj eybkhgeh’ owjen, fpf srbnuvs owpnuy wh dqg fuwxt hzqdt yk glm echrklfpx atpijp efhdmty pcnzgryoo srivzxfj. 
“Ev’q fbefbkiuum pb txalghb nb ily hszq,” blwf Wrjeefbb. ”Bn’v irvm aphv ve qdyph hyr avuybije eml xs xhyp’j lgrmg om vrhnlwu spfsrsmx ajelndym fizz zh lnphrvqac ueqkoj rut eewjuakam qol qcogs. S vlr’f tyelf ici njl kylrmay na oijrh fj sdtrd auvk jholpfj.”

Steph Bailey

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

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