ASX-listed Archer Materials (ASX:AXE) has been awarded a major Australian patent for its 12CQ quantum computing technology.
The patent’s approval marks a step forward for the Adelaide-based company in the race to become the world’s first technology used in everyday products, such as smartphones.
The tech firm, which has an office in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation district, announced last month that it now has commercial rights to its 12CQ chip invention.
dr. Mohammad Choucair, chief executive officer of Archer Materials, said he hopes the ultra-powerful 12CQ chip, once fully developed, can operate at room temperature and integrate into everyday electronic devices.
“The patent protects a potential pathway and a proposed qubit processor chip to realize practical forms of computing,” Choucair said.
“Australia is a very important country when it comes to quantum computing and you would be surprised how many Australians are at the forefront globally and here in Australia we are at the forefront of quantum computing and quantum technology.
“So having our patents here in Australia is something that is very important to us and something that is very important to us.”
The classical computer uses “bits” to process information where each “bit” is valued at zero or one.
However, a quantum bit or a qubit can display these values at the same time to make machines run faster.
Though it’s still in its infancy, the CSIRO says the emerging technology could create more than 16,000 jobs by 2040 and have annual revenues of $4 billion a year.
Archer Materials now holds chip-related patents in the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Europe.
Choucair said he expected quantum computing to be widely adopted by 2030 based on the “roadmaps of some of the major industry players”.
The technology can be rolled out not only for everyday use, but also in sectors such as defense.
“Quantum computing can give countries a competitive advantage,” says Choucair.
“It’s something that can give countries a competitive advantage, as it can potentially impact all sectors that depend on an increase in computing power.
“What we see today is the beginning of what the future of computers could fundamentally look like. It will most likely be built on more classical computer science, requiring digital bits and the marriage of physics and quantum information theory and the development of an ell.
The company, which also has an office in Sydney, is developing biochip technology at its prototype foundry.
The lab-on-a-chip device could analyze biological samples to help detect deadly infectious diseases.
Choucair said this groundbreaking technology could help rethink the way biological information is processed.
“With the most powerful supercomputers in the world today, I think about a third of their time is spent analyzing biological molecules,” he said.
“When you start talking about digitizing biological information with devices and sensors integrated on a chip, that means a shift.
“It’s really advanced technology that’s being developed.”
