How Europe’s IQM became a quantum computing soloist

While the world’s focus is on the AI market, more interesting developments are taking place at a sub-atomic level - or at least, that’s the view of Jan Goetz, co-founder and CEO of IQM Quantum Computers.

Unlike some of its lab-based competitors, Finland-based IQM sought to become a viable commercial operation quickly, completing its $1.8 billion dual listing on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Helsiki in July. This made it the first European quantum company to float on a public exchange. In general, it has held its value since then.

This particular unicorn claims to be global leader in on-premises quantum computer deliveries over the past year – 26 or more systems have been delivered, Goetz tells me, including to four of the world's top ten supercomputing centers. Partnerships with NVIDIA, AWS, and the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory all add to its list of achievements.

Impressive stuff, though for context we must acknowledge that the small number of systems shipped to date, while large for this sector, serves to illustrate how early in the quantum uptake cycle we are. Goetz acknowledges: 

Of course, it’s not a huge number of sales overall if you compare it to smartphones. But we are in the very early days, and it is more than anyone else has sold.