Founded in 2018, SEEQC Inc is a hardware quantum computing company based in Elmsford, New York, that aims to create a sustainable, cost-effective, and commercially viable quantum computer. The company’s primary goal is to create a feasible commercial quantum computer, leaning towards closing the gap between academic research and real-world application.
SEEQC’s competitor companies include IBM, IQM, QuantWare, and Qubitl Technologies, which are focused on developing superconducting quantum computers and hardware.
Who are SEEQC Inc.?
SEEQC was formed through the collaboration led by John Levy and Oleg Mukhanov, influential key persons who previously worked for Hypres, a company widely known for its development of superconducting electronics, and Matthew Hutchings, a keen member of the Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre fellowship program at Bristol University and the co-inventor of Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) superconductor circuit technology.
The company is one of the pioneers in constructing a commercial chip foundry that utilizes superconducting multi-layer technology. They have established a robust framework for developing, assessing, and producing superconductors suitable for quantum applications.
SEEQC’s system is designed to effectively mitigate noise and interference and ensure exceptional fidelity in quantum operations on a large scale. The company achieved this through the integration of cryogenically integrated quantum and classical processors, resulting in a remarkable reduction in the full-stack system’s overall complexity and a significant decrease in the required input/output (I/O) count and room temperature equipment.
What does SEEQC do?
Unveiling a digital chip that operates at super cold temp
SEEQC has created a digital chip capable of functioning at temperatures colder than outer space. This attribute enables its integration with quantum processors typically housed in cryogenic chambers. The initial chip is positioned directly beneath the quantum processor, managing qubit control and result retrieval.
This innovation holds the potential to simplify the construction of more potent quantum computers. Levy, a representative from SEEQC, suggests that this advancement allows each cryogenic chamber to accommodate a larger qubit count. While current superconducting quantum computers feature hundreds of qubits, some projections propose the necessity for thousands, or even millions, of qubits to facilitate practical algorithm execution on a quantum computer.
“If you’re trying to build a data center, if that’s your goal, then it’s not enough to take these kind of early prototype designs and try to scale them on a brute force manner.”
John Levy, co-founder and CEO of SEEQC
Unveiling Italy’s First Quantum Computing System
SEEQC has introduced Italy’s inaugural comprehensive quantum computer, SEEQC System Red, through a live demonstration at their Naples laboratory. The unveiling of this quantum computer is a significant advancement for both the nation and the industry, signifying a remarkable feat in technology and innovation.
SEEQC Red, their first-generation quantum computer, is built on the company’s unique quantum computing platform, which encompasses firmware, software packages, and a cloud portal. This platform empowers users to access the reference system for executing a wide range of universal applications and algorithms.
SEEQC’s primary approach prioritizes quality and speed. Giving them an edge over other software developers, wherein their system is built to implement algorithms that have substantially reduced error rates, approximately about four times lower than competing universal quantum computing systems accessible via the cloud. Furthermore, SEEQC Red also distinguishes itself by providing the quickest native two-qubit gates within publicly available quantum cloud services. These gates achieve speeds up to 10 times faster than rivals while maintaining gate fidelities that are competitive with the most advanced systems on existing quantum cloud platforms.
Through SEEQC Red, the company has achieved an average 2-qubit gate speed of 39 nanoseconds and average gate fidelities of 98.4%.
SEEQC’s The Foundry
SEEQC has its state-of-the-art 150mm $4 million multi-layer superconductive electronics chips fabrication facility located in Elmsford, NY that enables it to improve its SFQ processors continuously. This facility boasts a track record of successfully producing over 5,000 distinct superconductive electronic chip designs. It also allows the creation of application-specific hardware seamlessly combined with qubit chips to produce robust 3D multi-chip quantum computing systems.
Moreover, it facilitates the seamless integration of application-specific hardware with qubit chips, culminating in developing 3D multi-chip quantum computing systems.
SEEQC’s ability to combine application-specific components with qubit chips opens up new horizons for tailored quantum computing solutions, revolutionizing the landscape of quantum technology applications. This holistic approach allows SEEQC to deliver cutting-edge quantum systems designed to address the diverse and evolving needs of commercial, academic, and governmental sectors.
Catering to diverse markets, including commercial, academic, and government sectors, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including design, development, simulation, layout, fabrication, cryogenic high-speed testing, and top-notch packaging – all within a world-class production environment.
About the Founders
John Levy, the CEO
John, one of the co-founders of SEEQC Inc., brings over 35 years of experience at the intersection of technology and finance. Before establishing SEEQC in 2018, he held various leadership roles, including Chair of Hypres, where he remains on the board, and Chair of BioLite, a distributed energy company.
John has an extensive background in venture capital, having led investments in multiple technology companies and served on various boards. He also has a strong presence in the private equity sector, serving on the board of the Cathay Investment Fund, which invests in Chinese companies.
Oleg Mukhanov, the CTO
Oleg Mukhanov, with over three decades of experience in superconducting electronics, stands as a distinguished leader in the field. Before co-founding SEEQC, he held various pivotal roles at Hypres, a world-renowned provider of high-performance superconducting electronics, where he initiated the development of Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) superconductor circuit technology.
As a co-inventor of RSFQ during his PhD at Moscow State University in 1985, Oleg’s expertise has been instrumental in designing world-record-setting digital circuits and leading projects in diverse applications, ranging from data processors and memory to wireless communications and electronic warfare.
Matthew Hutchings, the Chief Product Officer
Matt is an esteemed quantum computing researcher renowned for his pioneering contributions as the lead experimental Postdoc at Syracuse University. He spearheaded an international project in collaboration with Saarland University, focused on developing a groundbreaking superconducting metamaterial device.
Additionally, Matt led a collaborative effort with the IBM quantum computing team, resulting in the successful creation of a scalable qubit element. This significant breakthrough earned recognition when the novel quantum computing element was seamlessly integrated into several state-of-the-art quantum processor architectures developed by IBM. Matthew Hutchings’ expertise and profound impact in the field of quantum computing are a testament to his leadership and ingenuity.
Funding
Over the last years since its founding, SEEQC has secured cumulative funding of $30 million from backers encompassing Merck’s M Ventures and LG Tech Ventures.
By investing in SEEQC, Merck aims to gain a competitive edge in simulating drugs, which is expected to be one of the more immediate advantages of NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) based quantum computers.
With Merck’s backing, SEEQC is poised to accelerate its research and development efforts, leading to advancements that could revolutionize drug discovery and material science through quantum computing. This partnership demonstrates the increasing integration of quantum computing into real-world applications and underscores the significant impact it could have on various sectors in the future.
Partnerships
HQS Quantum Simulations GmbH
SEEQC successfully ran an algorithm on SEEQC System Red last 19 July 2023, demonstrating the potential for commercially valuable quantum advantage shortly. The high-quality system characterization provided by SEEQC allowed HQS Quantum Simulations to test their unique approach to quantum simulation on real hardware, marking an essential third-party validation for SEEQC.
The successful execution of the algorithm on SEEQC’s full-stack quantum computing system is a crucial step forward for the field of quantum computing. SEEQC’s partnership with HQS Quantum Simulations showcases the company’s commitment to advancing the practical applications of quantum computing and its ability to collaborate effectively with other industry players.
BASF
By joining forces with SEEQC, BASF brings its extensive expertise in the chemical sector to contribute to critical pharmaceutical research. Leveraging SEEQC’s scalable chip-based quantum computer platform, the partnership aims to address challenging simulation tasks and enhance accuracy in modelling chemical structures.
The partnership is part of the QuPharma project, which aims to explore the potential of quantum computing in drug discovery. Innovate UK supports the project, and Merck KGaA is also involved in this collaborative effort. Through this partnership, BASF’s involvement expands the project’s scope to include simulations relevant to the chemical industry.