Paris, France – September 19th, 2024 – Welinq, a pioneering modular quantum computing and interconnect company, is proud to announce the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board, composed of four of the world’s most influential figures in quantum information science. This esteemed board will guide Welinq’s strategic direction and R&D efforts, positioning the company at the forefront of modular quantum computing and networking—critical architectures for the future of distributed quantum technologies.
The newly appointed Scientific Advisory Board includes:
Alain Aspect is a Professor at the Institut d'Optique-Université Paris-Saclay and École Polytechnique, as well as an Emeritus Research Director at CNRS. He is a member of the French Academy of Sciences. His work on fundamental quantum phenomena involving photons and atoms has earned him numerous prestigious awards, establishing him as a leading figure in quantum information research. Additionally, he has a remarkable track record in creating and supporting start-ups at the technological frontier. In recognition of his groundbreaking experiments with entangled photons and the demonstration of the violation of Bell's inequalities, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022, paving the way for advancements in quantum information.
A pioneer in quantum cryptography and entangled-based qauntum communications, Artur Ekert is a Professor of Quantum Physics at the University of Oxford, whose work has been instrumental in advancing secure quantum communication protocols. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and the founding director of the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at the National University of Singapore. His 1991 proposal of the E91 protocol, also known as the Ekert protocol, was the first to use Bell nonlocality to guarantee security, a principle with profound implications for modern quantum communication systems. Artur Ekert’s contributions have significantly shaped the field of quantum networking, positioning him as a leader in the development of scalable quantum communication systems. In recognition of his groundbreaking work, he has received several prestigious awards, including the 2019 Micius Quantum Prize for his contributions to quantum communication.
Kae Nemoto leads the Quantum Information Science and Technology Unit at OIST Graduate University in Okinawa, Japan, and serves as the Director of the Quantum Information Science Center at Japan’s National Institute of Informatics. A theoretical physicist and pioneer in the development of quantum networks and distributed quantum computing (DQC), she is a leading voice in advancing quantum information theory, particularly in the context of scalable quantum information systems. As a co-developer of the DQC framework, Nemoto has been instrumental in shaping how quantum algorithms can be executed across multiple quantum processing units (QPUs) linked by quantum communication channels, greatly enhancing scalability and fault tolerance in quantum computing. Her research has laid the groundwork for efficient algorithm distribution and error correction protocols in networked quantum systems, which are crucial for enabling large-scale, practical quantum computing infrastructures. Prof. Nemoto was also recognized for her work as co-director of the Japanese-French Laboratory for Informatics (JFLI), where she has cultivated strong research ties between Japan and France. For her significant contributions, she has received prestigious honors, including Fellowships from the American Physical Society and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Peter Zoller is a distinguished theoretical physicist and a professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. A pioneering theorist in quantum optics, quantum information processing, and quantum error correction, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of quantum entanglement and the development of quantum technologies. Zoller is one of the inventors of the seminal DLCZ protocol, which is recognized as one of the most important protocols for quantum networking. His research on quantum simulation and quantum networking has profoundly influenced the design of quantum computing devices and error correction protocols. The physics community has honored him with several prestigious awards, including the Max Planck Medal (2011), the Benjamin Franklin Medal (2010), the John Stewart Bell Prize (2019), the Dirac Medal, and the European Physical Society’s Einstein Prize. Additionally, Zoller is a member of several academies, including the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His influence extends beyond academia as he actively collaborates with industry to promote the practical implementation of quantum technologies.
As the quantum computing industry progresses towards practical applications, the importance of modular quantum computing becomes increasingly evident. Modular systems, which connect multiple quantum processing units (QPUs) into a unified, scalable network, are essential for overcoming the limitations of standalone quantum systems. This approach allows for the parallelization of computations across interconnected quantum devices, drastically enhancing computational power and resilience to errors.
Welinq is at the cutting edge of this paradigm, developing quantum links that leverage laser-cooled neutral atom quantum memories to create robust interconnects between QPUs. These interconnects are vital for building scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of tackling complex problems beyond the reach of classical systems like drug discovery, material design, climate simulations.
The establishment of this Scientific Advisory Board not only recognizes Welinq’s expertise but also strengthens its position as a leader in the modular quantum computing and quantum networking industries. The board members, each one a pioneer in their field, bring unparalleled knowledge and experience in quantum mechanics, communication, and computation—areas critical to the success of modular quantum computing and quantum networking.
The board’s guidance will be instrumental in refining Welinq’s R&D strategies, ensuring that the company not only stays ahead in the fast-evolving quantum landscape but also continues to set new standards in the industry. By leveraging the board’s collective expertise, Welinq will be better equipped to address the challenges of scaling up quantum technologies, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in quantum computing.
“By bringing together the best minds in physics, engineering and business, Welinq will enable quantum computer businesses to build machines that will address the world's biggest computational challenges. Quantum memory is the catalyst for the global quantum computing industry and the insights of these world-renowned scientists provide a unique growing opportunity for the team. It's also further evidence of Welinq's leadership in modular quantum computing. ”
Tom Darras, CEO and co-founder, Welinq