February 15, 2024 -- ORCA Computing has been selected to build and supply a quantum computing testbed for the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). Starting early this year, ORCA is developing a photonic quantum computing testbed for machine learning using its novel hybrid quantum/classical neural network architectures and photonic quantum processors. The company will complete delivery and installation of the system at the NQCC’s facilities on Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire by March 2025.  

“We’re delighted that ORCA has been selected to sit alongside other globally leading platforms at the NQCC, the focal point for quantum computing in the UK,” expressed Richard Murray, PhD, Co-founder, and CEO of ORCA Computing. “Our testbed will allow users to test and develop multiple different photonic quantum computing architectures, accelerating their identification of real applications and use cases.”

The ORCA Computing testbed will be an industry first, integrating multiple photon sources in a single system to accelerate the development of quantum computing applications. The testbed will also be tightly integrated with a GPU-based HPC cluster to provide the hybrid quantum-classical capabilities necessary for real-world applications. Partners include Sparrow Quantum, Bay Photonics, RedWave Labs, NVIDIA, AMAX and Imperial College.

ORCA Computing was one of a handful of companies selected as part of the broader programme. Congratulating the testbed competition winners, Dr Michael Cuthbert, NQCC’s Director commented, “NQCC seeks to accelerate the development of the UK’s quantum computing capabilities and infrastructure. There is a growing realisation across the industry that quantum developers need access to the hardware to engineer scalable solutions for a full-stack quantum computer. Once built, these system-level prototypes will help the NQCC and its collaborators to understand the unique characteristics of different hardware approaches, establish appropriate metrics for each qubit architecture, and explore the types of applications that benefit most from each technological approach. That will feed directly into the NQCC’s ongoing engagement with organisations across academia, industry, and government to develop use cases for early-stage quantum computers, and to identify the innovations that will be needed to accelerate the development and adoption of this transformative technology.”