Rigetti and India’s C‑DAC Sign MOU to Co‑Develop Hybrid Quantum Systems

Dr. Subodh Kulkarni from Rigetti Computing, Inc. announced that the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C‑DAC) in Bangalore to co‑develop hybrid quantum‑classical computing systems. Using superconducting qubits that are more than 1,000 times faster than ion‑trap or atomic alternatives, Rigetti has already demonstrated a 100‑plus‑qubit chiplet‑based platform and a 9‑qubit Novera QPU, and it plans to scale its flagship processor, Cepheus‑1‑36Q, to 36 qubits by the end of 2025. The partnership will focus on indigenous cryogenic electronics, superconducting hardware and advanced processor fabrication, aligning with C‑DAC’s ChipIN initiative to strengthen India’s semiconductor design ecosystem.

The MOU was signed on 2 September 2025 between Rigetti Computing, Inc. and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C‑DAC) in India. The agreement was announced in a press release from Rigetti and establishes a joint programme to design and commercialise hybrid quantum computing systems.

Rigetti’s superconducting qubits are the fastest qubit modality in the industry, operating at speeds more than 1 000 times those of ion‑trap or neutral‑atom devices. The company’s proprietary multi‑chip architecture, fabricated with established semiconductor manufacturing techniques, underpins its flagship Cepheus‑1‑36Q system, the largest multi‑chip quantum computer demonstrated to date in July 2025. Cepheus‑1‑36Q comprises 36 qubits across several chiplets and has already been scaled to a 100‑plus‑qubit configuration, a milestone that Rigetti aims to bring to market as its primary platform by the end of 2025. Rigetti also introduced the 9‑qubit Novera QPU in 2023 and has offered cloud‑based quantum services since 2017.

C‑DAC’s portfolio includes quantum‑accelerated solutions for logistics, drug discovery, and materials science. The partnership will also leverage C‑DAC’s extensive quantum‑aware hardware design capabilities, enabling the development of high‑performance, low‑power quantum processors that can be integrated into existing data‑center infrastructure.

Rigetti and C‑DAC will launch training curricula, workshops and apprenticeship programmes that target engineers and scientists in quantum hardware, cryogenic electronics and quantum‑classical software. The programme will also produce application‑workflow prototypes in domains such as materials science, cryptography and optimisation, demonstrating the tangible benefits of hybrid quantum computing for industry and academia. Rigetti introduced the 9‑qubit Novera QPU in 2023 and has offered cloud‑based quantum services since 2017, positioning it as a leader in both on‑premises and remote quantum computing. Dr. S D Sudarsan, Director of C‑DAC, remarked: “This partnership will accelerate the development of quantum‑aware hardware and software solutions that can transform India’s research ecosystem.”