Selection Recognition: Photonic chosen for DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Stage A.
Industrial Scale Goal: Focus on building cost-effective, utility-scale quantum computers by 2033.
Unique Approach: Photonic's Entanglement First™ architecture targets reliability and scalability.
Photonic Inc., a leader in distributed quantum computing, announced its selection for Stage A of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) on April 3, 2025. The initiative seeks to determine if quantum computers can deliver more value than cost by 2033.
Photonic’s team will present a concept for a utility-scale quantum computer that offers a realistic path to development. Their Entanglement First™ architecture, built around optically linked silicon spin qubits, aims to achieve scalable, reliable, and cost-effective quantum systems.
"We are proud to be selected for Stage A of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative ... Photonic’s Entanglement First™ architecture provides a scalable solution for distributed quantum computing. We look forward to delving deeper into our architecture with the QBI test and evaluation team in the months to come."
— Dr. Stephanie Simmons, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer, Photonic Inc.
Stage A participants must describe a utility-scale quantum computer concept with a feasible near-term development path. Future stages involve developing a Research and Development Plan and verifying the full-scale system’s operability alongside government partners.
QBI offers not only funding but also independent evaluation of participants' progress, creating a transparent measure of real-world quantum capabilities.
"Realizing the full potential of quantum at scale will require our collective genius. We were pleased to learn that Photonic was selected for DARPA’s QBI Stage A, a rigorous recognition cementing Photonic’s unique, entanglement-first approach to distributed quantum computing."
— Krysta Svore, Technical Fellow, Advanced Quantum Development, Microsoft
Photonic operates from Vancouver, British Columbia, and has teams in the United States and the United Kingdom. They are focused on delivering quantum solutions across fields such as materials science, drug discovery, and climate research, with over 150 employees supporting these goals.
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