Rigetti wins £3.5M grant to advance error correction in quantum computing and build scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
The quantum computing horizon has seen an intriguing breakthrough as Rigetti Computing, alongside Riverlane and the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), won Innovate UK’s Quantum Missions pilot competition. A grant of £3.5 million will be given to this collaboration to tackle one of the greatest challenges in quantum technology—quantum error correction.
Why is Quantum Error Correction So Important?
In order for quantum computers to shift out of research and solve everyday problems, they must be robust against errors. Quantum bits, or qubits, are fantastically susceptible to environmental noise and hence result in incorrect computations. Quantum error correction is meant to combat this delicacy by storing quantum information fault-tolerantly so that trusted and correct quantum computations are ensured.
Rigetti’s Uniqueness and UK Advantage
CEO at Rigetti, Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, aptly points out the strategic significance of the NQCC testbed. Having its superconducting quantum computer here at this frontier facility is invaluable for honing its technology. Additionally, the modular, open architecture of Rigetti and their high-gate-speed superconducting qubits are turning out to be significant strengths in searching for innovative QEC solutions. Their Ankaa-class design, boasting an impressive 98% median 2-qubit fidelity and a fast 68-nanosecond 2-qubit gate time, lays a solid ground for the implementation and experiment with advanced error correction methods.
A Boost for the UK’s Quantum Ambitions
This recognition not only confirms the technological abilities of Rigetti but also highlights the UK’s dedication to supporting innovation in the fast-growing quantum computing industry. Through investment in such projects, the UK is positioning itself as a quantum research and development hub, drawing top companies and supporting invaluable collaborations.
The Vision of the Project
At the heart of this ambitious initiative is Rigetti’s quantum computer, currently hosted at the NQCC in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The company plans to significantly enhance its capabilities by upgrading it to a 36-qubit quantum processing unit. This enhancement will be coupled with state-of-the-art control systems to manage classical computation bottlenecks—a crucial step in realizing fault-tolerant quantum computing.
The project further seeks to incorporate these advances into Riverlane’s Deltaflow.OS operating system, ensuring that the quantum system is optimized in terms of performance and reliability.
A Future of Scalable Quantum Systems
This project doesn’t merely offer incremental improvement; it can redefine the landscape of quantum computing by making the systems scalable and dependable. The possibilities are immense, from speeding up scientific inquiry to opening up new realms in areas such as cryptography, material science, and artificial intelligence.
Rigetti’s achievement highlights the value of global cooperation and assistance in pushing technological advancement. Through efforts such as Innovate UK’s Quantum Missions pilot, the race to quantum supremacy is no longer a competition—it’s a collaborative effort to advance the limits of what can be achieved.
As Rigetti, Riverlane, and the NQCC set out on this journey, the world and the quantum community at large wait in anticipation to witness how their efforts will forge the future of computing.
