* I’ve never seen a press release quite like this one, but it appears to be good news for Illinois, so here you go…
Infleqtion and QinetiQ Win Award to Apply Quantum Computing to Logistics
Infleqtion, the world’s quantum information company, and QinetiQ, a leading defense company, are thrilled to announce their successful bid for the Quantum End-to-end Compilation for Combinatorial Optimisation (QECCO) project through Innovate UK. This groundbreaking initiative will focus on using quantum algorithms to solve complex combinatorial optimisation problems in logistics and deliver this crucial quantum software capability to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). These optimisation problems are critical for national security yet often computationally intractable using classical computers, but quantum computers have the potential to provide significant speedups.
QECCO will address key challenges in the logistics sector, including job-shop scheduling, packing, routing, and satisfiability problems. These complex problems possess high business value, limited classical solutions, and tremendous potential for quantum solutions. Through stakeholder workshops and collaborations with end-users in logistics and transport, QECCO will identify specific high-impact target problems and refine algorithmic implementations.
The project team comprises experts in quantum software development, algorithmic implementation, and benchmarking, with a strong foundation from Infleqtion’s Superstaq platform, which has already demonstrated enhanced solution quality on real quantum hardware, along with the Supermarq benchmarking infrastructure for performance evaluation.
“We are delighted to be part of the QECCO project and collaborate with QinetiQ to unlock the full potential of quantum computing,” said Dr Timothy Ballance, GM of Infleqtion UK. “This project aligns perfectly with our vision of applying quantum technology to solve real-world problems. With our cutting-edge software capabilities and QinetiQ’s expertise in dual-use logistics applications, we are confident that we can deliver groundbreaking solutions for the UK.” […]
In May 2022, Infleqtion acquired Chicago-based Super.tech, a leading quantum software company that accelerates the development and adoption of quantum computing. The company was spun out of pioneering quantum computing research from EPiQC, an NSF Expedition in Computing at the University of Chicago. Super.tech is embedded in Argonne National Laboratory’s Chain Reaction Innovations program and also incubated by Duality, the first accelerator dedicated exclusively to supporting quantum startups, operated by the Chicago Quantum Exchange and UChicago’s Polsky Center.
“We are pleased to see Infleqtion’s software capabilities expand in the UK as the country has a strong track record of innovation in science and technology. We recognize the strong partnership between the UK and Chicago as global partners, and we look forward to working with our UK colleagues to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum computing,” said Infleqtion’s VP of Quantum Software, Pranav Gokhale.
“Quantum is unquestionably one of the most exciting new technologies in development, with the potential to reshape global solutions for generations to come. And that ripple effect comes from auspicious beginnings in the heart of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rooted in the groundbreaking quantum computing research coming out of the University of Chicago, Argonne Laboratory, and the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the impact of Infleqtion’s work will now stretch to our global partners in the United Kingdom to increase efficiency and continue to build the quantum network worldwide,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
The partnership is expected to last for three years and will result in the development of new software tools and applications for quantum-enabled systems. By compiling end-user applications directly to quantum hardware, Infleqtion aims to leverage the unique characteristics of quantum computing to achieve faster and more efficient solutions, making quantum technology more accessible and easier for various finance, healthcare, and national security applications.
* Gov. Pritzker talked to reporters yesterday about quantum technology and his trip to the UK…
I have to admit that although Goodwood was a great experience with all those executives together and being able to talk specifically about one industry [EV] that we’re working to attract companies, manufacturers, I have to say the meetings with quantum leaders here in the UK and bringing our quantum leadership from Illinois reinforced for me that Illinois, and Chicago in particular, are leaders in the world. We really are the leader in the United States that people look to. The University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, the duality accelerator at the University of Illinois, all of that, an exciting prospect for tremendous growth in something that I think will lead to Illinois being the Silicon Valley of quantum development. Again, you can look at what we have and think that we’re a leader, but to come to the UK and have people acknowledge that is quite exciting to me. And very importantly, we have already companies that are US-based that have opened an office here in the quantum space. And the same thing, quantum companies that want to come to Illinois and work with our university researchers, as well as, most importantly, to develop and sell their products into our industries.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:42 am:
That press release is really some authentic computer gibberish.
- Homebody - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:44 am:
This has to set a record for the number of times the letter “Q” has shown up in a single CapFax post, doesn’t it?
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:50 am:
It is good news. The whole quantum computing thing is still a bit ‘out there’ once real-world problems start getting solved faster, cheaper, or better than other ways; it will get more traction. Right now, it is a bit like blockchain in that it gets proposed for solving or revolutionizing X or Y, and you wonder if the effort involved is worth the added value.
But efforts like this get us closer to it being useful and practical for a real-world problem versus just being a harder and more expensive way to do x.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:56 am:
It might be easier to understand quantum theory than to read that press release…
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:58 am:
Translation:
We have the technology
We have the capability to make the worlds first bionic man
Steve Austin will be that man
Better than he was before
Better, Stronger, Faster
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:03 am:
If it’s good news, then it can also be bad news at the same time. That’s quantum computing in a nut shell.
Biut it is cool for Illinois to be at the forefront of this emerging tech. Or maybe it iisn’t too.
- Telly - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:04 am:
I think that release was written by AI. No snark.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:06 am:
The phrasing, the use of the terminology, the paragraphs written around a thought…
It doesn’t seem… “organic”
- Ernest T. Bass - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:09 am:
As clear as an Oswego Willy post…joking, OW.
- illinifan - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:09 am:
As a physicist once said to me “quantum physics is pretty much like an act of faith, you don’t learn it you have to feel it”. The press release sums it up. You don’t have to understand it just believe it says something.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:18 am:
“Infleqtion and QinetiQ Win Award to Apply Quantum Computing to Logistics”
That’s as far as I got.
“i’m happy for u tho. or sorry that happend.”
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:19 am:
Particularly liked the Governor’s comments.
He did a great job on covering the strengths Illinois has in this area.
- cover - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:31 am:
All of this discussion of quantum reminds me of the old (and very nerdy) joke, an offshoot from “Kilroy was here”: “Heisenberg may have been here”
- cover - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:34 am:
= I need a translator =
These quantum computing researchers need to develop a practical application as a proof of concept. The universal translator from Star Trek would be a great start.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 11:36 am:
If a duplicate comment appears just ignore it. Thought my tablet didn’t want me speaking ill of its relatives so tried it on my phone then the original one appeared.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
Quantum computing + Communications = Quantum QammuniQations.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
We are all totally dependent on technology nearly none of us understand…think about that?
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 12:44 pm:
Heisenberg may have understood this press release.
- Frida's boss - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 12:53 pm:
Good news for Illinois.
As with most new innovations and technology you need to find a communicator who can take all this high level “meta” speak and translate it into “regular people” language. Going to be tough to find someone who is a prolific communicator that fully understands this industry. Does anyone actually know what the heck is an NFT, if so can you pleased explain what they are and why they’re necessary?
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 12:53 pm:
Q. Open the door, Hal.
A. Hunuh
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 1:34 pm:
My interpretation of the techspeak: If you haven’t heard of the traveling salesman problem, that’s a math problem in logistics; planning the most efficient route for a salesman to cover a bunch of territories and stops, without repeating himself in any one location but while doing the least amount of miles. or maybe you know the map maker problem of choosing a minimum number of shades and locations to color each state on the map, so no two states on the map that touch, share the same color?
Now, think about Amazon, truck lines, railroads and airline routes, and the best way to ship everything, anywhere, at a particular time, while dealing with interruptions and detours in realtime.
Today, logistics problems like that are way more complex, and they involve not just moving a physical person or goods around, but also information. Information that needs to be fast as possible, and secure as possible.
Quantum based communications are very valuable because they have been characterized as “un-tappable”: any attempt to break the quantum encryption basically calls attention to itself while destroying the message they are trying to read. So you want that for confidential financial data transactions, military communications, personal medical data, anything sensitive.
Quantum computing also crunches big number problems, stuff like modeling fusion reactions in powerplant designs, crunching weather and climate prediction models, creating new molecule designs in biotech for cancer cures, etc. So it’s a valuable technology area and Illinois is a leader, as it was in developing the initial breakthru web browsing tools of the internet, and many other computing and hard science research and development fields. Having the research and development work for this booming new tech area be in Illinois, the state benefits economically and technologically. The spin-off businesses and services to come from this will be like the internet gold rush of the 80’s and 90’s and we’re poised to make the best of it here, and be a World leader in it too.
Hope that’s not too techy.
- walker - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 3:34 pm:
Good job Barabbas.
Illinois remains in the lead.
We could have nearly instantaneous potential solutions to complex problems with moving targets. The challenges will be in the quick uses of that information in the real world.
- sal-says - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 4:16 pm:
Sounds like a marketing scheme for a ponzi……
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 10:31 pm:
A lot of folks are suspicious of things they don’t have a good understanding of. If anybody tells you they “fully” understand quantum physics, they might not be telling the truth. But they know enough to say it’s quite a legitimate branch of scientific and technical endeavor, the potentials are only just beginning to be fully understood, the rush to get in on this is serious, and we have a head start.
Shrewd people can see that a science or technology on the frontiers is a potential goldmine. Illinois is staking a strong claim to be and remain at the center of these developments, as they carry out shared research. This will bring the world’s brightest minds to Illinois, along with capital. Good for the economy, good for our future.