There’s another contender for best material approach to create qubits in quantum processing units (QPUs), as if the field wasn’t already deep enough. Thanks to Paris-based C12, you can add carbon nanotubes to the list of possible materials that might be the most efficient way to provide a true quantum advantage. It joins superconducting materials, trapped ions, neutral atoms, photonic circuits and other options that different developers say will be the best approach to build fault-tolerant, gate-based universal quantum computers.
C12 released its roadmap on April 15, with four key milestones taking it from the release of its first chip in 2030 to a market-ready quantum computing solution in 2033. The timeline matches DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which is working with vendors to validate their approaches to quantum computing and see if it's feasible to create an advantage by 2033. CEO Pierre Desjardins discussed the roadmap and technology with Info-Tech in a one-on-one briefing.
C12: Four Key Milestones
- 2027 – Aïdôs: First logical quantum operations
- 2030 – Zélos: 236 physical qubits, 8 logical qubits, modular integration
- 2032 – Styx: 8,500 physical qubits, 128 logical qubits, quantum advantage threshold
- 2033 – Panopeia: 100,000+ physical qubits, ~800 logical qubits, market-ready
A modular design is the key to quickly scaling from one QPU that supports 236 qubits to many that together create a system of more than 100,000 physical qubits (about 800 logical qubits) by 2033, according to C12 CEO Pierre Desjardins. In 2030, the single chip developed will serve as a component in the next system, stacking together to create a system of more logical qubits. By 2033, Desjardins sees stacked silicon layers of chips fitting into single cryogenically-cooled system.
The race to build a reliable gate-based quantum computer is motivated by a potential US$450 to US$850 billion in revenue generated by the market in 2035, according to McKinsey’s projection. While these systems will technically be “universal computers” that can be used to solve any problem coded for them, quantum computers will likely provide an advantage over classical systems in a few specific – and valuable – problem archetypes. Use cases include simulating electronically complex molecular systems to aid discovery of new pharmaceuticals and chemical products or rapidly optimizing complex processes with any different variables and possible configurations. Quantum computers are also expected to provide new decryption methods that will render currently deployed public-key/private-key systems obsolete and necessitate a migration to post-quantum cryptography.
But for now, C12 is focused on the initial challenge of manufacturing a single functional chip that can be used for proof-of-concept development. Desjardins says C12 is based on “a decade of research” and important discoveries yielded from École Normale Supérieure in Paris. It’s raised $25 million in two pre-Series A fundraising rounds and continues to target "an order of magnitude more than what we’ve raised” in future rounds. That money has supported C12’s central-Paris quantum chip fabrication lab, where it produces many chips every month for R&D purposes.
A late start in the race may hinder C12’s chances to be a first-mover in the quantum market – other players have forecast their quantum advantage will arrive before 2033. Desjardins argues the company’s advantage will be architectural, with a system that can scale. By using silicon layers to house the carbon nanotubes, much of the manufacturing process of the chips can be handled using existing semiconductor fabrication facilities. Carbon nanotubes are added in a post-processing step with “high throughput nano assembly” methods already familiar to the industry.
The key feature of qubits in carbon nanotubes will be creating “all-to-all connectivity” at the local level and a more efficient quantum bus. Because qubits are sensitive to the environment and likely to lose coherence, chip makers must design systems that have many more physical qubits than logical qubits. Essentially, more qubits are needed to serve as backups for other qubits that fail to compute. Desjardins asserts his system has “very stable qubits” with long coherence times and will require fewer qubits for error correction.
C12 hasn’t yet determined how it will deliver its product to market – whether via on-premises systems or a cloud service. But developers can start preparing to run applications on the hardware using the firm’s quantum emulator, Calisto. It supports open source quantum development frameworks like Qisket, as well as tools from Quantinuum Ltd.
The emulator allows some work with early partners on identifying high-value use cases, Desjardins shared:
- Specialized gas provider Air Liquide is exploring quantum chemistry and next-generation semiconductor processes.
- French-based aerospace firm Thales Group is optimizing radar applications.
- Dassault Aviation is exploring complex engineering simulations including thermal management in spacecraft.
Bottom Line
C12 may be late to the quantum computing race, but if its unique approach to hardware can provide the modular path to scaling and an advantage when it comes to error correction, then it could catch up with other players in time to compete to provide business value. By supporting developers with existing tools and frameworks, it’s creating an easy pathway to build applications, which is just as important as developing the quantum processors themselves.
Recommendations
Hype around quantum computing is heating up, and many are looking to it as the natural next emerging technology to transform the industry after AI. While many notable scientific advancements have been achieved in the past year and there’s growing optimism that quantum computing will provide a true advantage over traditional systems for certain problems, the horizon for that value being delivered is still at least at the end of the decade. C12’s goal of being market-ready by 2033 is in line with other industry efforts. Most enterprise IT leaders won’t worry too much about whether its qubits are delivered via carbon nanotubes, superconducting materials, or some other exotic hardware. What matters is where C12 can provide value and what’s required to enable it.
Looking at C12’s early partnerships to develop applications is most informative on where quantum computing value is likely to be realized first. Simulation of quantum processes will help chemical producers like Air Liquide develop new products. Optimization of systems involving many different variables will help a variety of sectors, including technology services providers that need to interpret wireless signals like radar (as Thales does) or telecommunications services.
IT leaders looking to be on the cutting edge of the quantum computing market can’t just wait for quantum computing to be ready to ship. Taking advantage of it requires building up internal capabilities and maturity to understand where your business domain overlaps with quantum computing’s value. Acting now to build up that quantum readiness will shorten the overall time it takes to turn potential value into feasible initiatives. Look for our forthcoming blueprint, Identify and Evaluate Quantum Computing Use Cases, to make your plan.
