Qubic Technologies, a Canadian startup, is making significant strides in the field of quantum technology with its innovative superconducting amplifier. Under CEO Jérôme Bourassa, the company has developed an award winning, environmentally friendly amplifier. Replacing the ‘Josephson Junction’ This revolutionary device works without the conventional Josephson junctions that are present in all other quantum devices. Instead, it uses waveguides made from a proprietary niobium alloy, laying the groundwork for a new era of quantum processing.
Our mission at Qubic Technologies is to solve one of the most fundamental challenges all quantum systems are currently facing—dissipation of heat. Current amplifiers are a significant source of heat, using as much as 50% of a cryogenic fridge’s cooling load. Bourassa understands the significance that this issue has on proving a foundation for the development of quantum technology. According to the startup, their design is able to reduce heat dissipation by 10,000 times, allowing it to operate more efficiently at millikelvin temperatures. That kind of efficiency is required in order to develop a cryogenic microcontroller. It will operate a quantum processor with on the order of 100 qubits, which we plan to fabricate in the next two years.
Innovations in Superconducting Amplifiers
Qubic Technologies’ superconducting amplifier is a groundbreaking approach to quantum systems and signal amplification. This is because amplifiers have traditionally been heavily constrained by the performance and efficiency of the Josephson junction itself. By removing this reliance on garbage, Qubic’s novel architecture enables much more efficient quantum circuits than ever before.
Even more critical to improving performance is the proprietary niobium alloy used in the waveguides. This advanced material improves signal integrity. It reduces susceptibility to noise contamination, which is critical in the fabric of quantum computing spaces. The design’s capacity to function at near absolute zero reduces thermal noise that may interfere with quantum states.
Bourassa highlights the fundamental importance of understanding how to control heat in quantum systems. “At some point, you reach a breaking point where you don’t have enough cooling power accessible to remove the heat from the amplifiers,” he explained. Now, for Qubic Technologies, this is their moment to shine as one of the leaders in the field. They’re accomplishing this by designing an amplifier to really zero-in on thermal considerations.
Market Impact and Future Prospects
With the expected release of Qubic Technologies’ devices in 2026, this will be a critical inflection point for the quantum technology industry. The company intends to roll out a cryogenic microcontroller. Expected to control 100-qubit processors, this revolutionary technology constitutes a major advance in quantum computing power. Such an advance would make quantum systems stronger and more accessible, exciting researchers and industry stakeholders in equal measure.
The other side of the quantum technology landscape is populated by nimble startups working on every aspect of the burgeoning quantum field. SemiQon, a Finnish startup focused on the area that’s led by its chief science officer Janne Lehtinen, is a good example of that trend. “You had first the few players who did everything, but then when things started speeding up then this was divided into many specialized sectors,” Lehtinen noted, emphasizing the shift towards specialization within the industry.
Companies such as Qubic Technologies are focusing in on more niche technological developments. Their achievements are part of a larger collaborative and innovative ecosystem that continues to build on itself.
Collaborations and Industry Insights
The fast-paced development of this nascent ecosystem continued through the quantum booms, creating a complex web of relationships and networks of specialists and startups. Daan Kuitenbrouwer, chief product officer at Delft Circuits, observes that a diverse range of functional components must work together seamlessly in quantum systems. “You get this whole zoo of different functional components that all have to be connected to each other,” Kuitenbrouwer stated.
This web-like relationship emphasizes the importance of designing elements that absolutely kill it on their own. To be successful, they need to operate in harmony with bigger systems. Founded in 2017, Luxembourg-based Qubic Technologies has created a superconducting amplifier that can outperform and replace conventional semiconductor amplifiers. This advancement increases the versatility due to compatibility with various quantum applications.
Bourassa understands that compactness and efficiency are foundational to becoming competitive and achievable moving forward in quantum technology. “Having the capacity to remove the heat, having the capacity to make your systems more compact is definitely the pathway towards something that is viable in the future, both in terms of power but economically,” he remarked. This forward-looking vision offers plenty of opportunity for the private sector, increasingly driven by a culture of improving performance while reducing resource consumption.
