Infineon and Oxford Ionics Partner to Develop Mobile Quantum Computer

Cyberagentur, a groundbreaking initiative supported by the German Federal Ministries of the Interior and Defence, is embarking on a mission to develop three fully functional mobile quantum computers within the next three years. Out of these systems, one will be chosen for further advancement towards practical application. With a substantial investment of 35 million euros in the research and development project, the competition aims to bolster the technological sovereignty of Germany and Europe in the realm of quantum technologies.

"We are confident in our ability to create a highly capable quantum computer system that meets the rigorous criteria for functioning outside the confines of a laboratory. This system will possess unparalleled mobility, enabling its deployment in diverse locations," stated Clemens Rössler, Head of Ion Trap Development at Infineon. The development of the mobile quantum computer represents more than just a research endeavor for us; it signifies the fusion of our technological prowess, particularly the Infineon QPU platform technology, with commercially available manufacturing techniques to render quantum computing a practical reality. The foundation of this system will be ion-trap technology.

"We are set to provide Cyberagentur with the initial mobile iteration of Oxford Ionics' product range. From the outset, we have approached the challenge of constructing powerful quantum computers as an engineering feat rather than a scientific experiment. This approach has yielded the world's most high-performing qubits and a robust technology capable of delivering top-tier performance tailored to specific customer requirements within a compact physical footprint. We eagerly anticipate leveraging Infineon's expertise as we collaborate on QPUs that will scale up in qubit count, building upon our leading position in qubit quality," remarked Dr. Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics.

Envisioned as a cutting-edge and portable ion qubit quantum computer, the system will encompass all essential functionalities necessary for executing intricate operations such as those vital for machine learning or logistics optimization. Compact in size, resilient to environmental interferences, and energy-efficient, this quantum computer will leverage chips produced in a high-volume semiconductor fabrication line, enabling the technology roadmap to scale up to over 1,000 high-quality qubits.

The stringent requirements set forth by Cyberagentur necessitate the development of a reproducible and programmable quantum computer that can be utilized by security agencies directly in their operational environments, rather than restricted to specialized laboratories. This technology must be fully miniaturized and independent of laboratory conditions, including specific power supplies, stable environmental settings, data connections, and other variables. With the combined expertise of technology partners Infineon and Oxford Ionics, the practical implementation of these requirements is well within reach.