Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech CEO Marta P. Estarellas predicts that quantum computing will make significant inroads across various industries within the next five years. In a recent interview, the 2024 4 Years From Now (4YFN) award winner spoke about her company’s innovative approach to quantum computing and its potential applications.
Qilimanjaro is taking a different path than many quantum computing companies by developing a quantum computer that is analog, rather than digital. Estarellas explains: “We make quantum analog application-specific integrated circuits. We make what we call QASICs. That’s our differentiation and value proposition. The analog control of quantum computers makes them more robust, because they can avoid errors up to a certain level.”
This approach has the potential to bring practical quantum computing applications to fruition sooner than other methods. Estarellas identifies three main areas where quantum computing will have a major impact in the near future:
“I would break them down into three main areas,” she said. “One is AI training of artificial intelligence models, neural networks. This is becoming a big problem because it uses a lot of resources, but we think with our system we can do it more efficiently. The second is the simulation of natural processes in physics, materials, chemistry, etc., which allows us to advance applied technologies and understand systems in the pharmaceutical and materials industries very well. And the third is optimization.”
Estarellas noted that for the telecommunications industry in particular, quantum computing could bring both challenges and opportunities: “The telecommunications industry needs to pay special attention to quantum computing because in digital communications, quantum computing could become a threat to communications. If quantum computing becomes very powerful and is able to crack encryption keys, it will have a huge impact on how the telecommunications industry works.”
But she sees huge potential benefits for telecom companies in areas such as network optimization, and Qilimanjaro aims to make its technology available through a quantum-as-a-service model.
“We are building in Barcelona the first quantum data center, the first pure quantum data center, that will be able to provide quantum computing resources to the world, to the entire ecosystem,” Estarellas said.
While acknowledging that there are still challenges to overcome, particularly in scaling up hardware, Estrellas remains optimistic about the timeline for practical application of quantum computing.
“Before, I would have said 10, 15, 20 years because there were so many challenges, but now the situation has changed and I would say publicly that I would probably wait five years. [to] “We’ll see what happens,” she said.
As quantum computing continues to advance rapidly, Kilimanjaro’s unique approach and Estrellas’ vision suggest that the technology could transform industries sooner than many expect.
