WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Thursday that Quantum Circuits, Inc. (QCI), a quantum computer startup based in New Haven, is “Murphy’s Innovator of the Month.” QCI was founded in 2015 by Michel Devoret, Luigi Frunzio, and Robert Schoelkopf, three world-leading pioneers of the modern approach to quantum computing from the Department of Applied Physics at Yale University. With QCI, their aim is to create the first truly useful and scalable quantum computer, which has the potential to enable calculations that are faster and more powerful than today’s supercomputers for certain types of problems. 

The founders of QCI are taking advantage of the 20 years of pioneering research and advances in technology at Yale that helped lead to the development of the quantum computing field, including the groundbreaking development of the superconducting qubit. The company also has a close ongoing scientific partnership with the Yale quantum lab.  

In order to build the first useful quantum computer, the QCI team focuses on a modular design with quantum bits whose quantum states can be programed from the outside. While at Yale, the founders of QCI began developing electrical devices to do just that. This progress has led to many scientific firsts, including developing the first “quantum bus” for entangling quantum bits with wires and implementing the first quantum algorithms and error-correction with a solid-state device. 

QCI’s quantum computers and research will lead to the application of drug design for biotech, materials science, weather prediction, and more for industrial chemicals, fintech, logistics, and energy. QCI is working on a full-stack quantum computing platform based on superconducting devices and a modular, robust and scalable architecture. QCI employs 18 people and announced earlier this year the official opening of its 6,000 square foot state-of-the art development and testing facility in New Haven that includes laboratories and in-house manufacturing. 

“It cannot be overstated how significant the groundbreaking, innovative work happening at QCI is. Connecticut will forever hold the distinction of being home to the world’s first quantum computer, and that makes me incredibly proud. I look forward to working with QCI in any way I can as they continue to lead in this field,” said Murphy. 

QCI Co-Founder and Chief Scientist Robert Schoelkopf added, “We are proud to be building QCI right here in New Haven, the birthplace of quantum information processing with integrated circuits. Our goal is to ensure that Connecticut becomes the hub for this new industry.” 

Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies – the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.  

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