Germany backs Australian startup Quantum Brilliance to build a mobile quantum computer

The German government has faith in Australia’s quantum sector to build the world’s first mobile mobile quantum computer, with the nation’s cybersecurity agency, Cyberagentur, awarding a record $58 million (€35 million) contract to Canberra startup Quantum Brilliance and two others.

Quantum Brilliance (QB), founded in 2019, is the world’s leading developer of room-temperature miniaturised quantum computing products, using synthetic diamonds to produce smaller quantum chips that can operate at room temperature.

The Australian startup will partner with Austrian quantum architecture firm ParityQC to develop a mobile quantum computer that operates anywhere, rather than just in a data centre, for defence, security and civilian use.

In defence and national security scenarios, a mobile quantum computer could optimise troop movements, analyse battlefield scenarios, and simulate chemical or biological agents in real time.

The QB/ParityQC strategic partnership was one of three bids selected for the $58 million German project.

Quantum Brilliance already has strong ties to Germany, alongside international partnerships in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, working with governments, supercomputing centres, research organisations and industry leaders.

Last year QB raised $26 million for its global ambitions, with backing from Breakthrough Victoria, which chipped in $8 million, CSIRO-backedMain Sequence, Investible, Jelix Ventures, Rampersand and others.

The project comes at a fraction of the price the Australian and Queensland governments are spending to bring US hardware firm PsiQuantum to Brisbane in a deal worth $940 million in loans and equity to build the world’s first quantum; alongside another $760 million from US governments for one in Chicago.

The key difference with that project is that it requires cryogenics – an absolute zero temperature of -273.15 °C -plus vacuum systems and precision laser arrays to operate in a fixed location. QB’s technology consumes significantly less power, as well as being portable, with the synthetic diamonds

Quantum Brilliance cofounder and CEO Mark Luo said the two companies unique expertise for the collaboration.

“The potential of a quantum mobile computer is enormous for defense and cybersecurity in Germany and allied nations, and we believe our technology is the perfect fit for fulfilling the goals of this project,” he said.

ParityQC Co-CEOs Wolfgang Lechner and Magdalena Hauser said the partnership with Quantum Brilliance sets them up to develop the world’s first mobile quantum computer.

“ParityQC’s architecture offers advantages that will be critical to mobile development, such as the ability to process larger algorithms faster, and at a reduced error rate,” they said.

They hope to have a mobile quantum computer up and running by 2027 .