Dutch startup Quantware leads the way to 1-million-qubit QPU

Quantware has raised 20 million euros on the promise of making possible the world’s first million-qubit quantum processor (QPU). That promise rests on the Delft-based firm’s vertical I/O (VIO) technology, which is claimed to solve the QPU scaling bottleneck. Quantware offers VIO via its in-house designed QPUs, while third-party customers can access the technology through foundry and packaging Services.

“Our mission is to make VIO the scaling standard and have it power the first million-qubit quantum computers of the hyperscalers of tomorrow,” says CEO and co-founder Matthijs Rijlaarsdam. “We’re building the best team in the world to achieve this mission. Accelerating the path toward that moment is a very important thing to do, as systems of that size will change the world.”

Typically, quantum computers are built by networking many units into a single system. Due to the noise these network links introduce, they’ll be exponentially less powerful than the equivalent monolithic system. While the quantum computers of players like Google and IBM have 100 to around 1,000 qubits, Quantware claims VIO technology will allow the industry to move toward far more powerful and capable quantum computers.

The investment round was co-led by Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund and Innovationquarter, with participation from EIC Fund and existing investors including Forward.one, Graduate Entrepreneur Fund and QDNL Participations, as well as Job van der Voort, founder and CEO of Remote.com.