Archer announces patent for a quantum computing chip

Australian small-cap, deep-tech company Archer Materials has landed its first quantum computing patent associated with the company’s ¹²CQ quantum computing chip technology, which Archer aims to build for quantum computing operation at room temperature and integration on board modern electronic devices.

The patent application successfully underwent substantive examination procedures by the Japan Patent Office, one of the world’s largest patent offices. It is the first granted patent protecting the ¹²CQ chip and represents a significant commercial milestone in the company’s development of the quantum device, providing Archer with access to the high-value Japanese market for the ¹²CQ chip and marking the first step in the company’s pursuit to access global markets.

“Archer’s quantum computing chip IP is now well protected in Japan — a major global economy and centre for technological innovation,” said Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair. “The grant of a patent in Japan further validates, and substantially derisks, our unique technology.

“Archer is one of very few companies in the world with a patent portfolio protecting quantum computing qubit processor technology, and this is strategically significant as we rapidly progress in commercialising the ¹²CQ chip.”

The company considers Japan a critical strategic jurisdiction to protect and commercialise its IP. Furthermore, the success in the grant of the Japanese patent streamlines the patent granting process and procedures for the additional six international patent applications in the jurisdictions of Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Europe and the US.

The announcement follows last month’s news that Archer has entered a collaboration agreement with Max Kelsen, a Queensland-based AI and machine learning business and recent AWS Partner of the Year.

Both companies are members of the global IBM Quantum (Q) Network, with Archer focused on developing the ¹²CQ quantum chip and Max Kelsen using machine learning and AI for technology optimisation and solutions for government and enterprise. Their collaboration is said to be a crucial step in the development of functional room-temperature quantum devices, as the principal purpose of quantum computing processors is the use of algorithms that significantly outperform modern computers and, as a result, provide enormous advantages across global industries.

“As part of Archer’s forward-looking strategy, the collaboration with Max Kelsen — a leading AI and quantum computing firm — is a key step forward in the commercialisation of our ¹²CQ chip technology,” Choucair said.

“It’s a great example of how two Australian IBM Q Network members are working together to realise the commercial potential of quantum computing.”

As IBM Q Network members, Archer and Max Kelsen will use IBM’s Qiskit open-source programming framework and cloud-based quantum computers to implement novel quantum algorithms that validate practical quantum computing applications. Dr Choucair explained, “We will use IBM’s Qiskit and quantum machines to validate our work and, once validated, Archer intends to apply the end-user cases, algorithms and Qiskit to ¹²CQ chip hardware, which demonstrates the increasing value our partnerships bring as we progress in our development.”

The collaboration will see Archer staff work directly with the quantum computing team at Max Kelsen to develop industrially relevant business use cases of the ¹²CQ technology. This will involve the use of quantum processors to run quantum algorithms that have real-world applications, such as quantum artificial neural networks.

“Max Kelsen is excited to enter into collaboration with Archer Materials to develop novel algorithms to support the use of quantum computing in AI development,” said Nicholas Therkelsen-Terry, CEO and co-founder of Max Kelsen.

“Whilst attention has been centred on the hardware race to develop a fault-tolerant, high-qubit architecture, insufficient attention has been given to the importance of algorithms and software to run on these future machines. This collaboration will contribute to the growing global effort to develop industry-leading algorithms and software for future quantum computers.

“We are also excited to be working with an Australian quantum chip developer and improving our understanding of the capabilities of the ¹²CQ room-temperature quantum chip for machine learning and AI use cases.

“This partnership extends Max Kelsen’s ongoing commitment to leading the advancement and realisation of quantum computing technologies.”

Image caption: Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair and Quantum Technology Manager Dr Martin Fuechsle.

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