Saudi Arabian energy company Aramco is partnering with quantum computing firm Pasqal to bring the first 200-qubit quantum computer to Saudi Arabia. The computer, set to be deployed in 2025, will be used to pioneer quantum computing in the energy sector. The partnership will also establish a quantum research hub in Saudi Arabia, involving leading academic institutions. Pasqal, co-founded by Georges-Olivier Reymond, has been active in Saudi Arabia since 2023 and previously collaborated with Aramco on quantum computing applications in energy.
Quantum Computing in Saudi Arabia: A Partnership Between Aramco and Pasqal
Saudi Arabian energy company Aramco has entered into an agreement with Pasqal, a company specializing in neutral atom quantum computing. The partnership aims to install the first quantum computer in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step in the country’s digital evolution. The quantum computer, boasting 200 qubits, is scheduled for deployment in the latter half of 2025.
Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Aramco’s EVP of Technology & Innovation, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the partnership and the potential it holds. He emphasized the importance of embracing impactful technologies in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The collaboration with Pasqal, he said, would allow Aramco to integrate state-of-the-art solutions into its business operations and contribute to the growth of the digital economy in Saudi Arabia.
The Quantum Computer: A Powerful Tool for Industrial Use
The quantum computer to be installed by Pasqal is not just any quantum computer. According to Georges-Olivier Reymond, Pasqal’s CEO & Co-founder, it will be the most powerful tool deployed for industrial use, unlocking a new era of innovation for businesses and society. The quantum computer will initially operate in an “analog mode” and will be upgraded to a more advanced hybrid “analog-digital mode” within a year, enhancing its ability to solve complex problems.
Since its inception in 2019, Pasqal has been focused on developing concrete quantum computing algorithms that can be immediately applied to customer use cases. Through the partnership with Aramco, Pasqal aims to accelerate the commercial adoption of this transformative technology in Saudi Arabia.
Quantum Research in Saudi Arabia: A Vision for the Future
The partnership between Aramco and Pasqal is not limited to the installation of a quantum computer. The two companies also intend to identify new use cases for the quantum computer and have an ambitious vision to establish a powerhouse for quantum research within Saudi Arabia. This initiative would involve leading academic institutions with the aim of fostering breakthroughs in quantum algorithm development, a crucial step for unlocking the true potential of quantum computing.
Pasqal’s Expansion in Saudi Arabia
The agreement with Aramco also accelerates Pasqal’s activity in Saudi Arabia. The company established an office in the Kingdom in 2023 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aramco in 2022 to collaborate on quantum computing capabilities and applications in the energy sector. In 2023, Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures also participated in Pasqal’s Series B fundraising round.
About Aramco and Pasqal
Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company that produces approximately one in every eight barrels of the world’s oil supply. The company is dedicated to creating impact in all that it does, focusing on making its resources more dependable, more sustainable, and more useful.
Pasqal, on the other hand, is a leading company in the field of Quantum Computing. It builds quantum processors from ordered neutral atoms in 2D and 3D arrays to bring a practical quantum advantage to its customers and address real-world problems. Pasqal was founded in 2019 and has secured more than €140 million in financing to date.
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