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For years, quantum computing has been a domain of academic laboratories and large corporations like Google, IBM, or NVIDIA, requiring massive infrastructure, complex cooling systems, and significant investments to harness its full potential. But this is slowly changing with smaller companies coming into the scene. One such is Gopalakrishnan Balasubramanian built XeedQ.
The company has launched XQ1, the world’s first multi-qubit mobile quantum processor which operates at room temperature and consumes just 700 watts of power, bringing the power of quantum computing to a more accessible and practical level. It is a four-qubit quantum processor that uses one electron spin and three nuclear spins from carbon-13 isotopes.
“Our mission is to bring quantum processing to the reach of everyone, enabling businesses, innovators, and researchers to start experimenting with quantum technology today,” said Balasubramanian while speaking with AIM.
While some may argue that small-scale quantum computers like XQ1 can be simulated on a laptop, Balasubramanian stresses the importance of working with real quantum systems. “You can simulate a quantum system on a classical computer, but that simulation is based only on what we already know. Real quantum systems have the potential to reveal surprises that we can’t predict with classical simulations.”
Quantum and AI: A Natural Partnership
XeedQ is also at the forefront of exploring how quantum computing can complement AI. “Quantum systems are naturally probabilistic, which makes them a perfect partner for AI’s neural networks,” said Balasubramanian. Where AI relies on sheer computational power to calculate probabilistic outcomes, quantum systems do that naturally, making them ideal for handling problems with low training datasets or high error margins.
According to Balasubramanian, the future of computing will likely be hybrid, combining quantum processors with classical systems and AI. “I believe the future will be a blend of small QPUs (quantum processing units) and large cloud-based quantum systems.” We’re already seeing how quantum computers can enhance AI’s learning networks, and the XQ1 is designed to give businesses and researchers the chance to experiment with these hybrid systems.
XeedQ’s ambitions don’t stop with the XQ1. The company is already working on scaling up its qubit capacity, with plans to build 8-qubit, 16-qubit, and even 32-qubit systems in the coming years. The feedback from customers using XQ1 will play a crucial role in refining these future devices.
XeedQ Delivers its first Quantum Computer XQ1i to DLR Quantum Computer InitiativeXeedQ has already sold five XQ1 systems, with one going to the German Aerospace Agency (DLR). The DLR has integrated the XQ1 into its network to tackle complex optimisation and computational problems, showcasing the device’s potential in high-performance research environments.
“The German Aerospace Agency is one of our key customers. They’re integrating the XQ1 into their quantum technology ecosystem to solve problems in fluid dynamics, optimisation, and other fields,” said Balasubramanian.
XeedQ is also exploring opportunities in India, with discussions underway to establish a quantum innovation hub in partnership with the governments of Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Balasubramanian sees India as a key player in the future of quantum computing, particularly due to its strong IT sector and young, creative workforce.
“India is already a leader in IT, and now we have the chance to lead in quantum computing. With the right investment and infrastructure, we can build an ecosystem that fosters innovation in quantum technologies,” said Balasubramanian, echoing similar sentiments as Ajai Chowdhry, the man leading the quantum mission of India.
The Vision Behind XQ1
Balasubramanian’s journey into quantum computing has its roots in academia. After completing his PhD in physics at IISc, Bangalore, in 2006, he moved to Germany to work with Professor Jörg Wrachtrup in Stuttgart on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamonds. NV centres are defects in the diamond lattice that trap electrons, enabling scientists to probe their quantum properties.
This research led Balasubramanian to invent a nanoscale magnetometer, which he published in a 2008 Nature paper. “We were able to measure magnetic fields using a single atom, not with wires or contact-based methods, but with light,” he recalled. “That was a revolutionary approach at the time.”
Balasubramanian’s second major discovery was using isotopically pure diamonds to enhance the coherence time of quantum systems at room temperature. This work, published in Nature in 2009, held the world record for the longest coherence time in a room-temperature quantum system for years.
However, it wasn’t until eight years later, when another company commercialised one of his lab inventions, that Balasubramanian realised the potential of bringing quantum innovations to the market. “It was an eye-opener for me. I thought, why wait for others to take lab innovations to market? Why not do it myself?”
This realisation led him to found XeedQ GmbH in 2012. His goal was to develop quantum technologies that could be easily used outside the lab, providing the tools for businesses and innovators to explore quantum computing’s potential.
Other companies are focusing on quantum accelerators that split tasks across multiple two-qubit systems to speed up specific calculations, as explained by Balasubramanian. But XeedQ focused on building a full-fledged quantum computer where every qubit can be controlled and entangled.
Balasubramanian firmly believes that quantum computing will become a daily part of life by 2030, driving advancements in industries ranging from healthcare to finance to defence. “Quantum computing is not just a technology—it’s a revolution. The XQ1 is just the beginning. We’re giving businesses and innovators the tools they need to explore the possibilities of quantum today so that they’ll be ready for the quantum future.”
