Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute to build UAE’s first quantum computer

A team operating from the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, has begun building its own quantum computer.

Technology Innovation Institute, the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), will construct the computer at its Quantum Research Centre labs, in collaboration with Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech.

“We are at the cusp of a new era with the advent of quantum computing,” said Faisal Al Bannai, secretary general of ATRC. “We are proud to embark on building one of these wonderful machines which will help us in various fields, from discovering new medicines to making new materials to designing better batteries to various Artificial Intelligence applications.”

TII to Build UAE’s First Quantum Computer:
#TII​’s Quantum Research Centre team led by Professor José Ignacio Latorre, will construct the quantum computer in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with @qilimanjaro researchers. https://t.co/Rt8tjbFuze pic.twitter.com/j2CDHVqMS9

— Technology Innovation Institute (@TIIuae) March 23, 2021

A quantum computer uses phenomena such as ‘superposition’ and ‘entanglement’ to generate and manipulate subatomic particles like electrons or photons – quantum bits also known as ‘qubits’ – to create exponentially stronger processing powers that can help perform complex calculations.

“The first step in the process is to build a laboratory, equip it and complete installation of the cleanroom equipment, all of which is on track. Once done, the first qubits will be prepared, characterised and benchmarked. We expect the first simple quantum chips ‘Made in Abu Dhabi’ should come by the end of the summer,” noted Professor José Ignacio Latorre, chief researcher of TII’s Quantum Research Centre (QRC).

Prof. Latorre said there are several technologies to construct quantum computers. However, QRC has opted to use superconducting qubits, which is the same technology that Google and IBM use in building their own quantum computers, he added.

QRC is one of seven initial dedicated research centres at ATRC’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Other research areas include autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems.