Final Phase of Utility-Scale Quantum Computing Program to Focus on Production-Scale Quantum Computing Technology and High-Impact Use Cases

DARPA Selects PsiQuantum to Advance to Final Phase of Quantum Computing Program

Alex Mack | Director, Marketing & Communications
amack@psiquantum.com, media@psiquantum.com

PsiQuantum has successfully completed the research & development viability phase of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program — one of the programs that makes up DARPA’s larger Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) — and is now entering the validation phase of the program. In this final phase, DARPA will evaluate PsiQuantum’s utility-scale system design, component and system performance to specification, and application use cases and economic utility. This next and final phase of work marks another significant milestone in PsiQuantum's roadmap to develop the world’s first utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers on the fastest timeline possible.

Over the past year, DARPA conducted an exhaustive evaluation of PsiQuantum's photonic-based approach and technology as well as its designs for a fault-tolerant quantum computing prototype. This comprehensive assessment, led by over 50 experts from leading government agencies, labs and contractors, rigorously examined PsiQuantum's technology and engineering plans, focusing on scalability, reliability, and readiness for practical applications.

In this final phase, DARPA will continue to partner with PsiQuantum to evaluate its technology progress, with a specific focus on hardware systems end-to-end performance. PsiQuantum installed and is currently testing the largest quantum cryogenic module at the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California and will be networking multiple cabinets at the company’s new 120,000 square foot manufacturing and testing facility in Milpitas, California.

“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Defense and DARPA for having the vision and commitment to establish this program. The DARPA team and the evaluators from the U.S. research labs are the best of the best,” said Prof. Jeremy O’Brien, PsiQuantum co-founder & CEO. “We must keep our foot on the accelerator and commit all attention and resources towards the path to scaling and unlocking this technology and its real-world impact across the United States’ most critical industries.”

As global competition in quantum computing accelerates, investment in these technologies is an immediate national priority, and U.S. leadership in this field is essential to maintaining economic security and technological superiority, particularly as adversaries seek to develop their own quantum capabilities. PsiQuantum commends the US Department of Defense and DARPA for taking a leading role in the advancement of these technologies. Quantum computing is poised to transform critical industries, including energy, healthcare, finance, and defense, while securing a competitive advantage for nations that lead in its development.

PsiQuantum has been scaling its operations and will be breaking ground on its first two Quantum Data Centers in Brisbane, Australia and Chicago, Illinois in the coming months.

In July 2024, the State of Illinois announced a $500M initiative to establish the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and its first two anchor tenants: DARPA and PsiQuantum. PsiQuantum will build its first US-based utility-scale quantum computer at the IQMP and DARPA will establish the Quantum Proving Ground at the IQMP in a partnership with the State of Illinois.

About PsiQuantum:

PsiQuantum was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The company’s mission is to build and deploy the world’s first useful, fault-tolerant quantum computing systems. PsiQuantum’s photonic approach enables it to leverage high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and existing cryogenic infrastructure to rapidly scale its systems. Learn more at www.psiquantum.com.

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“We must keep our foot on the accelerator and commit all attention and resources towards the path to scaling,” said Prof. Jeremy O’Brien, co-founder & CEO, PsiQuantum.