SPECIAL FEATURE | Quantum computing moves toward commercial deployment
Researchers have spent decades developing quantum computing technologies, progressing from theoretical concepts and laboratory experiments to increasingly sophisticated hardware platforms.
Quantum computing is moving closer to practical commercial use as researchers and technology companies work to overcome longstanding challenges involving scalability, error correction, hardware reliability, and system integration. Among the companies pursuing that goal is Sydney-based Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), which forecasts first deliveries of commercial-scale quantum computers by 2033.
While artificial intelligence continues to dominate the technology sector, quantum computing is emerging as another transformative field that could reshape industries ranging from healthcare and finance to telecommunications, energy, logistics, and scientific research.
Unlike conventional computers that process information using bits represented as either 0 or 1, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously through quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement. These properties enable quantum systems to perform certain types of calculations far more efficiently than classical computers.
Researchers have spent decades developing quantum computing technologies, progressing from theoretical concepts and laboratory experiments to increasingly sophisticated hardware platforms. Despite significant advances, most quantum systems remain experimental, and challenges involving error correction, stability, scalability, and cost continue to limit widespread commercial deployment.
Atomic-Level Engineering
SQC is among a growing number of companies seeking to address those challenges through specialized hardware architectures. The Australian company, founded in 2017, has received approximately AU$180 million in funding and employs more than 100 people, including 85 engineers.
Its approach centers on controlling and positioning individual phosphorus atoms inside isotopically pure silicon with 0.13-nanometer precision. According to the company, this atomic-level engineering enables the creation of highly precise silicon-based qubits while minimizing imperfections that can introduce computational errors.
The company has developed application-specific quantum systems known as Watermelon and Quantum Twins, which it says are being used for quantum machine learning and molecular simulation workloads.
“Delivering a commercial-scale quantum computer requires the world’s most cutting-edge hardware and relationships with hardware providers. We are proud to be using AMD products, and we are on this journey together,” said Michelle Simmons, founder and CEO of SQC.
Bridging Quantum and Classical Computing
One of the industry’s biggest challenges is integrating quantum processors with traditional computing infrastructure. Quantum systems still rely heavily on classical computers for orchestration, monitoring, error detection, software development, and data management.
SQC said it uses AMD Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC technology for qubit control and readout while AMD Ryzen Threadripper-powered clusters support simulation, modeling, and software preparation. The company said the combination enables rapid development cycles and continuous hardware refinement.
“We have our own manufacturing facility, allowing us to design and deliver new chips weekly. That’s a huge advantage over competitors and is essential for agility as we build our commercial muscle and prepare for broad scale adoption of quantum computing,” Simmons said.
According to the company, it fabricates and tests hundreds of chip designs annually while introducing new firmware and hardware updates each week.
“By controlling every aspect—down to the analog pulses for qubit control—we maximize reliability and performance. The AMD platform lets us get instructions to the qubits at the speed quantum computing demands,” said Ramon Buckland, SQC’s head of software.
Potential Industry Impact
Although large-scale quantum computing remains under development, researchers believe the technology could eventually address complex computational problems that are difficult or impractical for conventional systems.
Potential applications include molecular modeling for pharmaceutical development, advanced materials research, financial risk analysis, logistics optimization, climate modeling, cybersecurity, and energy management.
SQC said its technology is already being applied in several sectors. In telecommunications, the company said its systems are being used to assess network health and predict outages. Financial institutions are using quantum hardware to strengthen anti-money laundering analysis, while energy utilities are exploring quantum-assisted load balancing and demand forecasting. Government organizations are also evaluating quantum computing for strategic and security-related applications.
“The flexibility of the AMD platform is unmatched. It was the obvious choice for our needs, balancing analog and digital capabilities seamlessly,” said Alan Mujumdar, lead of SQC’s hardware team.
Quantum Computing and AI
The relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important area of research.
While today’s AI systems rely primarily on GPUs and conventional high-performance computing infrastructure, researchers are investigating whether quantum algorithms could accelerate certain machine learning tasks or improve optimization processes.
According to SQC, its quantum machine learning systems have delivered faster model training times, potentially helping organizations accelerate AI deployment and improve returns on AI investments. The company said the technology has been used by enterprises and data center operators seeking to improve AI workflows.
Rather than replacing traditional computing, many researchers and technology companies envision future computing environments that combine CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, and quantum processors, with each platform handling workloads best suited to its capabilities.
“Our customers are the biggest enterprises in the world, with extensive R&D budgets and a clear focus on frontier technologies,” Simmons said. “Quantum, classical, and AI systems work alongside one another. Heterogeneous computing is the future.”
Looking Ahead
The commercial quantum computing industry remains in its early stages, but investment and development activity continue to accelerate worldwide.
For companies such as SQC, the goal is not to replace conventional computing but to add a new layer of computational capability for solving highly specialized problems. Continued advances in hardware design, software development, and integration with classical systems will likely determine how quickly quantum computing moves from research laboratories into mainstream enterprise environments.
SQC expects collaboration with hardware partners to remain critical as it works toward its goal of delivering commercial-scale systems over the next decade.
“Today, we’re scratching the surface of what quantum can do for technology and society. Commercial-scale quantum computing is just around the corner and I’m excited for what the future brings beyond that point,” Simmons said.
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