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Why Did the CEO of a Global Quantum Computing Company Visit KIST? (September 11, 2023)
- Date : 2023-10-11
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Why Did the CEO of a Global Quantum Computing Company Visit KIST?
KIST (President: Seok-Jin Yoon) announced that a kick-off meeting with Xanadu (CEO Christian Weedbrook), a world-renowned quantum computing company, was held at KIST’s headquarters in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul on September 11th.
Founded in 2016, Xanadu is the world’s #3 ranked quantum computing company, after American firm Google and China’s USTC, with an estimated corporate value of 1.3 trillion won as of 2022 and more than 160 experts employed to conduct research and development. In addition to quantum computing hardware, Xanadu recently formed a partnership with Germany company Volkswagen to develop next-generation batteries using quantum simulation, and is also a prominent player in quantum computing applications.
Following the signing of an MOU between KIST and Xanadu in Toronto, Canada, where Xanadu's headquarters is located, KIST and Xanadu began full-fledged joint research after Xanadu became an official partner institution in June of this year. At the kickoff meeting, Christian Weedbrook, CEO of Xanadu, directly revealed his future plans for joint research on the development of optical-based quantum computing hardware and algorithms, in addition to personnel exchanges, in collaboration with KIST.
KIST President Seok-jin Yoon stated, "KIST is striving to achieve world-class results in the field of quantum technology through international cooperation, and joint research with Xanadu is a prime example of this." Xanadu CEO Christian Weedbrook added, "Through this collaboration with KIST, Korea’s leading research institute, we plan to pursue cooperation with various Korean companies and research institutes."
Meanwhile, Dr. Seung-woo Lee, the head of KIST’s Center for Quantum Error Correction, commented, "Following in the footsteps of the University of Chicago and National Institute of Standards and Technology last year, Xanadu has decided to become a partner of our joint research center as well. This is due to leading global groups recognizing our independent error correction technology. Future joint research is expected to create synergy in the development of general-purpose quantum computing technology."
KIST established the Center for Quantum Error Correction in 2022, and in August of this year, the Center sought to promote international cooperation in quantum computing by gathering together world-class optical-based quantum computing companies and researchers, including Professor Shuntaro Takeda and Chief Science Officer Josh Nunn from Orca Computing in the UK.