Marta P. Estarellas, CEO of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, predicts quantum computing making significant inroads across industries within the next five years. In a recent interview, the winner of the 2024 4 Years From Now (4YFN) award discussed her company’s innovative approach to quantum computing and its potential applications.
Qilimanjaro is taking a different path from many quantum computing companies by developing analog quantum computers rather than digital ones. Estarellas explained: “We do quantum analog app-specific integrated circuits. We do what we call QASICs, and this is our differentiation, this is our value proposition. Because analog control of quantum computers allows you to bypass, up to certain levels, the errors so it’s more robust.”
This approach could enable practical quantum computing applications sooner than other methods. Estarellas sees three main areas where quantum computing will have major impacts in the near term:
“I separate them in three main areas,” she said. “One is AI training of artificial intelligence models, of neural networks. This is becoming a big issue because it uses a lot of resources, and we believe that with our systems we can do this more efficiently. The second one is simulation of natural processes in physics, materials, chemistry and so on. This allows you to keep advancing in applied technologies and understanding very well systems in the pharma, in the materials industries. And the third one is optimization.”
For the telecommunications industry specifically, Estarellas noted that quantum computing could pose both challenges and opportunities: “The telco industry needs to pay special attention to quantum computing because digital communications is one where quantum computing could become a threat for communication, because quantum computing — once it becomes so powerful that they can break some cryptographic keys — will impact very much the way the communications industry works.”
However, she also sees major potential benefits for telecom companies in areas like network optimization. Qilimanjaro aims to make its technology accessible through a quantum-as-a-service model.
“We are building here in Barcelona what will be the first quantum data center, purely quantum data center, to be able to provide these quantum computing resources to the world, to the entire ecosystem,” Estarellas stated.
While acknowledging there are still challenges to overcome, particularly in scaling up the hardware, Estarellas is optimistic about the timeline for practical quantum computing:
“I used to say 10, 15, 20 years because there’s a lot of challenges but this has changed and I now dare to say publicly, I would say let’s wait for five years maybe [to] see what happens,” she said.
As quantum computing continues to advance rapidly, Qilimanjaro’s unique approach and Estarellas’ vision suggest the technology may transform industries sooner than many expect.
