Magical Pronouncements
We are living in times where we can witness how the quantum computing (QC) landscape has developed: from Richard Feynman’s and David Deutsch’s magical pronouncements in the 1980s to the founding of D-Wave Systems twenty-one years ago to the thriving market of over one hundred (and counting) startups we have today. Add to the boiling cauldron of innovation the big corporations with their infinite reserves of cash, the burgeoning technological revolution spurred by the magic of qubits is on the right road.
As we speak, we have companies covering all bases within the QC ecosystem, from building the hardware the technology will be built upon to the software solutions such as algorithms and educational tools.
And one QC company, founded in 2012 (eons ago as far as startups in the space go), has ambitions that spread far and wide.
They’re called Qubitekk (formerly GridCOM Technologies), a Vista, California-based firm which is researching systems and components in the industry that includes quantum cryptography, QC sensing tools, educational and research resources.
Qubitekk
Many experts in the field would say having your ‘head in the clouds’ and the burden of ‘biting off more than you can chew’ will, in the end, be to Qubitekk’s detriment.
But the facts say otherwise.
Take these press releases from the company’s website over the last twelve months:
Qubitekk acquires Quantum Key Distribution Patent portfolio
Qubitekk to Receive Federal Funding to Introduce Quantum Protected Networks at Air Force Depots
Qubitekk Supports Effort to Establish Global Quantum Security Technology Standards
‘Qubitekk is a quantum sciences company specializing in entanglement. Our quantum lab is located in Vista, CA just north of San Diego. Using entangled photon states for quantum key distribution to protect the United States critical infrastructure in the areas of energy delivery, 5G communications and national defense. Qubitekk’s scientist have worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where they gathered knowledge and expertise for what would become Qubitekk.’
— Dr. Duncan Earl, founder Qubitekk
It doesn’t appear they have. Far from it, in fact.
For they are doing things others around are not.
THE POWER OF QUANTUM
— Qubitekk
The company’s goal is to build a quantum computer ‘that will be orders of magnitude faster than today’s fastest supercomputer.’
Founder, president and CTO is Dr. Duncan Earl, whose previous job before starting Qubitekk was at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has more than two decades’ experience working in the private sector and government organizations in optical technologies and quantum encryption solutions.
Speaking last year in an interview for Insights Success, self-styled as the best business magazine in the world for enterprises, Earl’s reply on Qubitekk’s vision and mission was:
— Our Vision is to become the nation’s leading quantum technology provider.
— Our Mission is to protect the United States’ critical infrastructure from cybersecurity attacks using entangled photon cryptography.
Unique selling points or smoke and mirrors?
We’ll have to wait and see.
But it will be in cybersecurity issues, using the power of quantum information science, that Qubitekk can add value to not only their future customers but the wider QC community, too.
