Innovation Fund Denmark invests in the development of a topological fail-safe quantum computer

Quantum computers are theoretically capable of outperforming classical computers exponentially for certain computational tasks that are crucial in various fields such as pharmaceuticals, materials design, defense, finance, energy, and engineering. When fully operational, quantum computers will fundamentally transform our society by enabling significant breakthroughs in these and other fields. The scale is comparable to the revolution that classical computers created in the 20th century.

Even though quantum computing platforms in both hardware and software have made significant advances over the past decade, challenges in scalability and fault tolerance remain. So far, quantum effects have only been used for quantum computing in relatively small systems that are compromised by errors due to noise. The race in building a universal, scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer is still wide open.

Of the total project funds, Innovation Fund Denmark is investing DKK 21,3 million in the TopQC2X project, which will help researchers develop a new generation of scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computers by forming the foundations for using topological quantum computing on photonic platforms. The project is a collaboration between the unique strengths of the Center for Quantum Mathematics (QM) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Quantum Physics and Information Technology (QPIT) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

QM will contribute to the project by developing and applying new topological tools for quantum computing, including codes tailored to the photonic platform via GKP modes and topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) based on Andersen-Kashaev TQFT. The physical implementation, led by QPIT, focuses on realizing such codes on photonic platforms for improved error correction in continuous variable quantum computing (CVQC).