Development of a new generation of quantum computers: the Italian Accord

Developing a new generation of quantum processors that is more resistant to errors, easier to scale and with qubits (the computational units of quantum computers) that are easier to manage: this is the goal of anall-Italian agreement between two of the main national entities active in the development of superconducting quantum computers, the technology considered to date as the most promising. Signing it are the Italian quantum computing company Planckian, founded in 2023 as the first joint spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore, and the QTLab Quantum Computation Center of theUniversity of Naples Federico II, where Italy's most powerful 25-qubit superconducting quantum computer was designed and currently operates.

The agreement represents another milestone on the path of collaboration between universities and businesses within the national quantum computing ecosystem, thanks to the integration of scientific expertise, entrepreneurial skills and cutting-edge technological infrastructure.

The collaboration promotes the combination of Planckian's technological innovation with the solid experience in the development of superconducting quantum devices at Federico II University.

One of the main challenges in making quantum computers more powerful is scalability, that is, going from the current few qubits to systems with millions of qubits. In superconducting devices, which operate at temperatures close to absolute zero, wiring is a critical limitation: today, each qubit requires 2-3 control lines, causing heat, errors, and scalability difficulties in terms of cost, size, and power consumption of cryogenic systems. Planckian is addressing this problem by developing chips in which multiple qubits share the same control line, thus reducing wiring and improving overall efficiency. The agreement is part of this context and involves testing some Planckian devices within the advanced cryogenic infrastructure of the Quantum Computing Center at Naples University, as well as the possible launch of joint research programs.

"This agreement represents the perfect example of how the Italian innovation ecosystem can generate value through the synergy between excellent academic research and companies engaged in the development of advanced strategic technologies," said Michele Dallari, CEO and co-founder of Planckian. "The expertise of the University of Naples Federico II will make an important contribution to accelerate the development of our next-generation quantum processor."

"Italy has all the credentials to become a European hub of quantum computing," added Francesco Tafuri, head of the QTLab Quantum Computation Center at the Federico II. "This partnership shows how collaboration between industry and academia can create a virtuous ecosystem capable of attracting international investment and retaining our best talent."

The agreement creates a strategic bridge between Pisa and Naples, scientific hubs with solid international reputations in the field of physics, which together aim to consolidate Italy's position in the global race for quantum computing, contributing to the realization of the goals defined by the national strategy for quantum technologies.

Planckian is a company engaged in the development of next-generation, highly scalable and efficient quantum processors. Its innovative architecture dramatically simplifies the control infrastructure, accelerating the development of more compact, high-performance and affordable quantum computers.

QTLab at the University of Naples Federico II is an interdisciplinary research group for the development of superconducting technologies for applications in Quantum Computing and Quantum Communication. QTLab is based at the Department of Physics 'Ettore Pancini' and houses two quantum computers within it, one of which was built with the support of ICSC - National Center for Research in High Performance Computing.