By Amber Hickman |
Microsoft is opening a new quantum research centre at the University of Maryland in the USA.
The lab is the result of a collaboration between Microsoft, the University of Maryland Enterprise Corporation (UMEC) and the state of Maryland.
It will support collaborative hardware and software development, and feature one of the first prototypes of Microsoft’s topological quantum computer, which will be accessible to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Academy.
“It is more than an infrastructure investment,” said Dr Charles Tahan, partner at Microsoft Quantum, in an online blog post. “It is a shared environment that will uplift partners at all layers of the computing stack and also encourage joint research, outreach and ecosystem-building efforts.”
Microsoft will also work with partners in industry, academia and government to design, build and deploy quantum computers.
“Developing scalable quantum computers will require combining forces, not only across different skill sets, but also from various missions, problem spaces, investment approaches, and funding mechanisms,” said Tahan. “We are excited and grateful to collaborate with the state of Maryland on this groundbreaking quantum research centre. This partnership exemplifies what is possible when state and federal leaders, academia, and industry unite to accelerate US leadership in science and innovation.”