Israel buys quantum computer from UK-based ORCA Computing

British quantum start-up makes second sale to a national Government in consecutive months

British quantum computer developer ORCA Computing has been chosen to partner with Quantum Machines, an Israeli company, to establish the newly announced Israeli Quantum Computing Centre.

The facility has bought an ORCA PT-1 model, the first computer of its kind able to work at room temperature and on-site.

ORCA is the only UK quantum processor developer selected to partner with the new centre, which will develop a research and development base for industry and academia to develop applications and uses.

The sale was announced by the Israel Innovation Authority.

ORCA Computing CEO Richard Murray said: “We’re delighted to help establish quantum computing in Israel and look forward to developing applications and uses. This is a significant milestone for us as the second sale we’ve made to a government. It also involves a commitment beyond the initial computer to future upgraded models.”

Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, described the new centre as “a substantial leap in the Israeli civilian technology’s fortitude.”

The centre has selected leading partners from around the globe to support three different quantum processing technologies: superconducting qubits, cold ions and photonic qubits.

ORCA software allows small scale photonic processors, which use single units of light, to be applied to complex machine learning and optimisation tasks.

The centre is being established by Quantum Machines, which specialises in control and operation systems for quantum computers. The other developers chosen to partner with the centre are US-based ColdQuanta and QuantWare, a developer based in the Netherlands. 

The UK Ministry of Defence announced last month that it is also to work with a PT-1, acquiring the UK Government’s first quantum computer.

This announcement contains forward looking statements. Members of the consortium that have been awarded to develop the Israeli national quantum computing centre expect to project to commence following contract.

ORCA Computing is developing a full-stack, photonic quantum computer. Its multidisciplinary team of quantum scientists, engineers and computer scientists is devising unique hardware and architectures. These will change the face of high-performance computing and networking, from near-term quantum devices and applications to universal fault-tolerant systems.

The ORCA platform is the first to include a ‘quantum memory’ allowing quantum computers based on single photons (units of light) to become scalable. Photonic quantum computing does not require complex engineering such as advanced cryogenic cooling and vacuum.  

The ‘quantum memory’ storage of quantum information also reduces errors so that fewer components are needed. This allows ORCA to build computers in optical fibre without silicon processing since silicon is unreliable, highly expensive and prone to failure

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