QuantWare, a Dutch startup founded in 2020, has secured a €20 million Series A funding round to further develop its proprietary 3D chip architecture for quantum processing units (QPUs). The company's core offering, vertical integration and optimization (VIO), focuses on scaling bottlenecks in QPUs, a crucial step towards making quantum computing commercially accessible.

The funding round was co-led by Dutch state-owned entity Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund and regional economic development agency InnovationQuarter, solidifying QuantWare's position as a frontrunner in the Netherlands' growing quantum ecosystem. This all-equity round brings the total funding raised by QuantWare to €26.5 million, following a €6 million seed round and a €7.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council.

QuantWare's VIO technology is designed to address the challenge of integrating more qubits on a single chip, a critical factor in reducing errors and increasing the power of quantum computers. According to CEO Matthijs Rijlaarsdam, VIO "is the missing link in scaling up QPUs." The company's 3D chip architecture has already powered quantum computers for customers in 20 countries, demonstrating the potential of its technology.

The new funding will be used to scale QuantWare's team and technology, including the development of its Contralto-A QPU for quantum error correction. Announced in February, Contralto-A is designed for upgradability to larger VIO-powered QPUs and boasts a size almost twice that of competing solutions. This roadmap-focused strategy sets QuantWare apart from big tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, which are also investing heavily in quantum computing.

While big tech companies are racing to develop the largest QPUs with the most qubits, startups like QuantWare are focused on making quantum hardware commercially accessible to all. The company is pursuing two paths to achieve this: distributing its own designed QPUs and allowing other companies to use its technology via its Foundry and Packaging Services. The new funding will also be deployed to further develop VIO and build out its chip fabrication facilities.

QuantWare's technology has already attracted the attention of well-funded quantum startups, including Alice & Bob, Quantum Machines, and SEEQC. These companies are working together with QuantWare on the development of technology and products, demonstrating the potential for collaboration in the quantum computing ecosystem.

The ultimate goal of QuantWare and its peers is to develop quantum architectures that can provide a million qubits, enabling the solution of meaningful, industrial-scale problems. As Rijlaarsdam noted, "there is a large and valuable class of problems that even a gigawatt AI cluster will not be able to solve — but quantum computers will." Examples of these problems include calculations on quantum systems, such as creating better materials, discovering new catalysts to break down microplastics, or improving the sustainability of fertilizer.

With its €20 million Series A funding, QuantWare is well-positioned to play a key role in pushing the boundaries of quantum computing. As the company continues to develop its VIO technology and build out its ecosystem, it may help bring about a future where quantum computers can solve complex problems that are currently unsolvable by classical computers.