LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Q-CTRL, a startup that applies the principles of control engineering to accelerate the development of quantum technology, today announced a strategic investment by In-Q-Tel (IQT), the not-for-profit strategic investor that identifies innovative technology solutions to support the national security communities of the U.S. and its allies.

Q-CTRL is a pioneer in the field of quantum control engineering, delivering software products and professional services to help customers and partners harness the exotic properties of quantum physics for real-world benefit.

The company’s practice in quantum computing solves the Achilles heel of this new technology – hardware error and instability – by delivering a set of techniques that allow quantum computations to be executed with greater success.

More recently, Q-CTRL has begun applying its tools and expertise to quantum enhanced sensing, helping to improve the efficiency and performance of standoff detection as well as precision navigation and timing for defense and aerospace. In recognition of this work, Professor Michael J. Biercuk, founder and CEO of Q-CTRL, was invited to present the U.S. Office of Naval Research distinguished lecture in February 2020.

“We have assembled the world’s leading collection of specialists in quantum control, and this investment by In-Q-Tel is a validation of the critical role our team will play in the development of quantum technologies for national security,” said Professor Biercuk. “We’re committed to leveraging our products and expertise to benefit national security, and we’re thrilled to participate in this cross-border collaboration between the U.S. and Australia.”

“Q-CTRL focuses on building the foundational software that will lead to the advent of effective quantum technologies more quickly,” said Mike Ferrari, Managing Director and co-head of IQT’s Australian office. “We see the company as a key strategic partner to guide efforts towards suitable applications of effective quantum technologies to efficiently solve mission-critical and computationally demanding problems.”

Professor Biercuk and his academic team have previously received scientific research funding from U.S. defense and intelligence organizations, including the U.S. Army Research Office and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

About In-Q-Tel, Inc.

IQT delivers cutting-edge and critically needed technology capabilities that contribute to the national security of the United States and its allies. IQT achieves this through market and trend analyses, strategic investments, technology adaptation, and applied research. Founded in 1999 as the independent, not-for-profit strategic investor to the CIA, IQT’s role and scope has since evolved, and IQT now partners with 10 U.S. government agencies. Its Sydney-based Australian subsidiary, IQT International Australia Ltd., collaborates with the Office of National Intelligence (www.oni.gov.au) on behalf of Australia’s national intelligence community to support a partnership between the intelligence and national security communities of the U.S., UK, and Australia. Learn more at www.iqt.org.

ABOUT Q-CTRL

Q-CTRL was founded in November 2017 and is a venture-capital-backed company that provides control-engineering software solutions to help customers harness the power of quantum physics in next-generation technologies.

Q-CTRL is built on Professor Michael J. Biercuk’s research leading the Quantum Control Lab at the University of Sydney, where he is a Professor of Quantum Physics and Quantum Technology. Q-CTRL has assembled the world’s foremost team of expert quantum-control engineers, providing solutions to many of the most advanced quantum computing teams globally.

The team’s expertise led Q-CTRL to be selected as an inaugural member of the IBM Q startup network in 2018. Q-CTRL is funded by SquarePeg Capital, Sierra Ventures, Sequoia Capital China, Data Collective, Horizons Ventures, and Main Sequence Ventures. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company recently opened its U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles.

Contacts

Mike Kilroy

HKA, Inc.

[email protected]
p. 714-422-0927