UK, May 01 2025 -- OQC, a global leader in quantum computing and Kvantify, a leading quantum software company, today announced the launch of an InnovateUK project that is set to demonstrate the first quantum hardware-tailored platform capable of performing chemically accurate modelling of battery processes – representing a significant leap in quantum chemistry towards real-world applications.

The project, named CoaxChem to signify the collaboration of OQC’s patented Coaxmon architecture and Kvantify’s quantum chemistry capabilities, aims to co-develop a novel quantum chemistry software that will seamlessly integrate with OQC’s quantum hardware. With a specific focus on quantum algorithm and hardware co-design in order to optimise the combined performance of the combined system, CoaxChem represents the first quantum hardware-tailored quantum software platform capable of performing chemically accurate modelling of battery processes.

Advancing battery development will be an instrumental part of the UK’s and Europe’s green transition and essential in achieving net zero by 2050. A critical component of many devices, modes of transportation and the evolving energy generation capability, batteries involve time-consuming and costly research and development, relying on classical computations with limited capabilities.

Quantum computers are a new generation of problem solving machines which operate according to completely new rules. This new kind of computing will make entirely new forms of information processing possible, which will help to generate breakthrough discoveries in a variety of industries. Using the principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain tasks much faster than classical computers, they can run certain tasks that classical supercomputers can’t do. Combining quantum software and hardware together has the potential to not only revolutionise computation, but dramatically speed-up computation over conventional algorithms and hardware. Quantum algorithms can be hard to develop and programme, and the most promising applications hard to identify, however projects such as CoaxChem are trailblazing significant leaps in quantum chemistry by setting a new standard on how quantum technologies are developed towards real-world applications and bridging a crucial gap in anticipating the next generation of quantum computers with the logical era.

Discovering new components for batteries involves time-consuming and costly research and development. Typically, to boost efficiency, battery manufacturers use chemical computation to narrow down the best battery component candidates. However, most chemical computations currently used offer limited efficacy only and struggle to simulate complex systems with high precision due to the vastness of the problem space. Developing quantum software on quantum computers can tackle this challenge due to their immense potential for error reduction, performance optimisation and computational power, which can be exponentially scaled.

A strategic response to the challenges and opportunities with battery development and manufacturing, the international research and development collaboration will develop an innovative chemical model for battery chemistry, integrating OQC’s quantum hardware with Kvantify’s proprietary quantum chemistry platform, and co-optimising OQC’s hardware with Kvantify’s software to enhance performance and results. In addition, CoaxChem’s solution will be designed to enable future adoption with fault-tolerant quantum computers (FTQCs), once they become available.

CoaxChem is poised to solve a variety of complex problems in battery chemistry, such as battery oxidation and electrolyte degradation, enabling the creation of novel, cost-efficient and reliable battery components, while capitalising on emerging opportunities within the energy industry. The innovative platform developed in CoaxChem is built upon the best available quantum chemistry algorithms from Kvantify, which are designed with quantum hardware in mind, presenting unique capabilities to tackle intricate chemistry problems even with the challenges posed by NISQ devices. OQC’s quantum hardware guarantees a scalable, top-quality 3D superconducting qubit design which is unique in quantum computing, providing the right framework to co-design and integrate with Kvantify’s chemistry platform.

The development and deployment of a quantum chemistry platform which can be adapted to fault tolerant quantum computers constitutes a groundbreaking advancement not yet achieved. CoaxChem’s innovative approach positions the developed product as a pioneering solution in the quantum computing ecosystem, offering unique computational capabilities, unmatched by current market offerings, to aid in the R&D and manufacturing of novel batteries.