Finnish startup secures €2.35 million to propel quantum amplifier development

Helsinki-based Arctic Instruments, a spinout from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has raised €2.35 million in funding to advance its superconducting microwave amplifier technology, pivotal for scaling quantum computers. The funding round was led by Lifeline Ventures, known for backing early-stage category leaders. Arctic Instruments specializes in manufacturing near-quantum-limited amplifiers, essential for accurate qubit state measurements in large-scale quantum systems. The funds will enhance the company’s production capabilities, enabling it to meet the growing demand as quantum computers scale from hundreds to thousands of qubits.

Current quantum computers typically have around 100 qubits and require 10 to 20 amplifiers for measuring the qubit states. To increase computing power, the number of qubits must be scaled up, and thus, the number of amplifiers must increase accordingly. A quantum computer with 10,000 qubits will require thousands of near-quantum-limited amplifiers of consistent quality. Near-quantum-limited means that the amplifiers add as little noise to the measurement as the laws of physics allow. Arctic Instruments is the only manufacturer already capable of supplying thousands of amplifiers of the required quality and consistency.

Quantum computers with more qubits and higher-quality operations have higher performance, enabling them to solve more complex, real-life problems in multiple industries. According to McKinsey, chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility are likely to be at the forefront of the quantum impact and stand to gain up to 2 trillion dollars by 2035. Getting there won’t be possible without significant scaling up of quantum computers – more qubits bring more computing power.

The founding team of Arctic Instruments consists of seasoned scientists with ample experience in superconducting circuit research. The company is a spinoff of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, a state-owned research and development organization. The company’s amplifiers were developed as part of VTT’s research. Bringing about the quantum leap is one of the multi-disciplinary research organisation’s targets as it strives for a positive impact on our lives and the planet.

“We have reached a level of maturity where our capability to fabricate and test our amplifiers in volume is industry leading. In the bigger picture, the development of quantum computers remains very much a challenge, and their potential applications also remain an active topic of research. What is clear is the need to scale up, without compromising the quality of any of the critical components. We contribute to this effort by constantly improving both the quality and consistency of our near-quantum-limited amplifiers, which are key to accurate qubit state measurements. The dedicated company and funding we now have allows us to boost our development efforts significantly,” says Joonas Govenius, CEO and Co-founder of Arctic Instruments.

“Arctic Instruments is a competent team that has been able to create a product that solves one of quantum computing’s most critical challenges. The product is based on several years of research. It is very difficult to produce a component that is accurate and reliable at the same time, and works today,” said Timo Ahopelto, founding partner at Lifeline Ventures.

“VTT has invested in the research and development of superconducting and quantum technologies for several decades. Our goal is to make these results available to companies, and spin-off companies are one important way to do this. Arctic Instruments is a great example of how results of long-term top research are commercialised and scaled up into a global business,” says Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, Vice President, Microelectronics and Quantum Technology.

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