Expect the successor to Bell-1 in less than a year, CEO Jason Lynch tells SiliconRepublic.com.
Equal1 has made quite a few announcements over the past few months – from testing the “world’s coldest” quantum chip to joining forces with renowned research organisations in an attempt to break more frontiers in the field.
However, the most eyebrow-raising of it all has to be the launch of Ireland’s first-ever quantum computer – which the start-up announced just two months ago.
According to Equal1, the new machine ushers a in a new age in quantum computing, while also boasting a few ‘firsts’ and a dramatically cheaper price tag. And another one is on its way soon.
Although the quantum start-up’s story started seven years ago as a University College Dublin (UCD) spin-out, its CEO Jason Lynch tells SiliconRepublic.com that they are just beginning to reveal the things they have been working on.
Is it too late to ask what quantum is?
Lynch was invited as a keynote speaker at last week’s Enterprise Ireland Start-Up Day event, where he confidently claimed that his start-up could be the “Nvidia of quantum” within the next decade.
That was enough to pique my curiosity. So, shortly after the event I caught up with the CEO to ask him what he meant – but first, a few basics on what the start-up does.
“Quantum is rebuilding the compute infrastructure on a new foundation,” Lynch told me in an interview later that week.
Up till now, all our computing technology has been built on the digital bits – ones and zeros. However, in quantum technology, things are built with a qubit, or a quantum bit.
So, instead of being just ones and zeros, qubits also exhibit quantum features that lead to a huge increase in their capabilities, he explains.
Quantum computing allows for complex problems to be solved faster and more efficiently than “traditional” computing, with a vast range of industries are set to benefit from the tech, including finance, defence, life sciences, telecommunications and manufacturing – you name it.
The industry is currently in a “transition period” Lynch says. He predicts it will take around four to five years to have commercial impact from quantum computers. Although, some are already claiming so, he adds.
A Quantum Insider report from 2024 forecasts that quantum computing will contribute $1tn in value to the global economy by 2035.
Starting from around $1bn in 2024, the market for quantum hardware and software is expected to grow to $5bn by 2030 – even more in bullish scenarios.
Ringing the Bells of success
The start-up is less than a decade old and has been relatively quiet up till recently. That’s because Equal1 wanted to be sure of its proof points before coming out with major announcements, the CEO says.
According to Lynch, Equal1’s approach uses existing semiconductor processes. Instead of disregarding the existing infrastructure, Lynch says the start-up leverages the trillions already invested in the semiconductor industry.
“There weren’t a whole lot of companies that were doing this,” he says. “It was very important for us to spend six years basically proving that this could be done”.
Bell-1 is the first-ever Irish-made quantum computer and according to the company, the world’s first silicon-based quantum server designed for data centres and high-performance computing.
It also takes the cake for the only quantum server built using existing semiconductor tech.
Equal1’s Bell-1. Image: Equal1
Its processors are compatible with existing chip fabrication techniques, and this, in addition to using existing semiconductor technology, allows for Bell-1 to be scalable, commercially viable and able to be integrated into present-day data centres.
Generally, quantum computers are huge installations that cost in the range of tens of millions, Lynch says. However, using existing tech allows for Equal1 to lower the cost significantly.
Equal1 sells Bell-1 at a price of around €2m – and there are already a few potential buyers in the mix, Lynch tells me. No details on them yet though.
“I mean obviously €2m is not cheap, but again, compared to some of these other the cost of others it is remarkably cheap.”
Although, they aren’t the only one looking at a similar approach. Intel, UK-based Quantum Motion, Quobly in France and Diraq in Australia are just some of the names Lynch gives for companies trying to achieve what Equal1 did.
Still, “we’re kind of really happy we were the first,” he says.
However, that’s not all. The start-up is already working on a newer quantum computer model that builds on Bell-1 – the Bell-2.
Lynch says that the next iteration of the start-up’s quantum computer will be announced at around this time next year, “maybe even a little bit earlier”.
Home-grown quantum leader
Equal1 expects real-world applications using quantum within the next decade. Similar to Nvidia, who were able to create chips that build the foundation to today’s artificial intelligence, Lynch says that Equal1 hopes to build the processors and the fabric that will accelerate the adoption of quantum.
Laying down his vision, he says that Equal1 aims to be the first to enable real-world quantum computing and create a company similar to Nvidia’s stature – valued at several trillions.
Moreover, Lynch believes this can all be done with Ireland as its headquarters. “I believe we can grow and scale from Ireland,” he says.
“We always see our headquarters being here, but we’re a global company…and already we have five locations that’s hiring the best people … for the very diverse skill sets that we need.”
“We see ourselves as a global company and but very much headquartered in Ireland.”
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