C12 is asserting that it lately raised an €18 million funding spherical ($19.4 million at immediately’s alternate fee). Initially based in 2020 as a spin-off from the Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, the corporate has been engaged on a novel course of to create quantum computer systems based mostly on carbon nanotubes.
Whereas the idea of quantum computing isn’t new, it’s nonetheless very a lot a piece in progress. Many scientific groups have been approaching this subject from totally different angles. The objective is to create a quantum pc at scale that may execute calculations with a low quantity of errors.
However wait, why do we want quantum computer systems within the first place? Computer systems as they exist immediately are fully based mostly on digital transistors. And we’ve turn into actually good at making transistors smaller so we are able to pack extra transistors in a single chip. Consequently, computing energy has progressed at an exponential tempo over the previous 60 years.
And but, the present pc structure has its limits. Even when corporations begin constructing larger information facilities, some issues merely can’t be solved with conventional computer systems. It’s also unclear whether or not Moore’s regulation will stay legitimate within the years to return.
That is the place quantum computer systems may show helpful.
“If we wish to create a mannequin — an exhaustive simulation of a chemical response — to understand how new medicine are going to work together with our cells, that’s not attainable with a traditional method,” C12 co-founder and CEO Pierre Desjardins (pictured proper) informed TechCrunch.
“There are an entire host of optimization issues to be solved, whether or not in transport, logistics or manufacturing. They’re inconceivable to run on a traditional pc as a result of there can be too many variables, too many attainable eventualities,” he continued.
Matthieu Desjardins, his brother, has a PhD in quantum physics and acts because the CTO of the corporate. In some unspecified time in the future in our dialog, Pierre Desjardins even referred to as his brother a “scientific genius.”
And since it’s 2024, there’s even an AI angle that ought to persuade you that quantum computing analysis is necessary. “At this time, coaching a big language mannequin additionally means consuming an unlimited quantity of power,” Pierre Desjardins mentioned. “And quantum can also be a computing technique that makes use of a lot much less power.”
The right way to construct a quantum pc
C12 says the 2 key variations with the opposite groups engaged on quantum computer systems are that it makes use of a distinct materials — carbon nanotubes — and it has a particular manufacturing course of — a nano-assembly course of that’s now patented.
“At this time, I feel we’re the one ones on this planet to regulate this very particular course of, which entails placing a carbon nanotube on prime of a silicon chip. And what’s completely fascinating is the size. The diameter of a carbon nanotube is 10,000 occasions smaller than a human hair,” Pierre Desjardins mentioned.
Analysis groups working for giant corporations like Google, IBM or Amazon are at present specializing in a distinct course of. Most of them are utilizing superconducting supplies, comparable to aluminum, on prime of a silicon substrate.
In line with C12, whereas this technique has led to early breakthroughs. Nonetheless, utilizing aluminum isn’t going to work at scale as a consequence of interferences as you begin including extra qubits. Whereas quantum isn’t mature but, C12 believes it’s engaged on next-generation quantum computing in comparison with these aluminum-based processes.
The corporate has arrange its first manufacturing line in a basement close to the Pantheon in Paris. On this facility, they manufacture carbon nanotubes, management these tubes after which combine them with the silicon substrate.
“It’s now up and operating. At this time, we produce about one chip per week, which we then take a look at in our mini information middle,” Pierre Desjardins mentioned. However don’t anticipate to see a quantum pc simply but. “We’re nonetheless actually simply validating basic parts,” he added. The corporate is specializing in chips with one or two qubits for the second.
Emulating quantum
As analysis and growth work progresses, the C12 staff can also be engaged on its enterprise ecosystem. Like many quantum corporations, C12 has created an emulator referred to as Callisto. Emulators let builders write and run some quantum code on a classical pc.
They’re not going to get the outcomes they’d get with a quantum pc, however at the least they are going to be able to hit the bottom operating when quantum computer systems can be found.
“We’re at present specializing in two verticals, the chemical trade and the power trade. The chemical trade makes use of it to simulate chemical reactions and the power trade makes use of it primarily for optimization issues,” Pierre Desjardins mentioned. Specifically, the startup has a partnership with Air Liquide.
And if we return to the funding spherical, Varsity Capital, EIC Fund and Verve Ventures are investing in it; current traders 360 Capital, Bpifrance’s Digital Enterprise fund and BNP Paribas Développement are additionally collaborating as soon as once more on this spherical.
There are 45 individuals from 18 totally different nationalities working for C12 immediately, together with 22 PhDs. With the lately raised capital, C12 plans to signal extra partnerships with industrial companions. However the firm additionally has a analysis objective.
“The opposite objective is to hold out, for the primary time, a quantum operation between two qubits which can be situated at a protracted distance from one another,” Pierre Desjardins mentioned. By lengthy distance, he means “tens of micrometers” from one another. It doesn’t seem to be a lot, however it is going to be key in relation to scaling quantum computing.
