Arctic Instruments, a spinout of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, which manufactures near-quantum-limited amplifiers, has snapped €2.35 million in funding. The round was led by Lifeline Ventures (which invested in Hyperion Robotics and Oura), one of Finland’s biggest VCs. Lifeline is known for identifying and supporting potential category leaders in their early stages.
With this investment, the company is looking to scale up the development and production of superconducting microwave amplifiers that enable the construction of bigger and better quantum computers. It will also focus on the commercialisation of its superconducting microwave amplifier technology.
Scaling quantum computing
Current quantum computers have around 100 qubits and require 10 to 20 amplifiers for measuring the qubit states. To increase computing power, the number of qubits must be scaled up and the number of amplifiers must increase accordingly. A quantum computer with 10,000 qubits will require thousands of near-quantum-limited amplifiers of consistent quality.
Quantum computers with more qubits and higher-quality operations have higher performance, enabling them to solve more complex, real-life problems in multiple industries. According to McKinsey, chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility are likely to be at the forefront of the quantum impact and stand to gain up to 2 trillion dollars by 2035. Getting there won’t be possible without significant scaling up of quantum computers as more qubits bring more computing power.
Arctic Instruments is touted to be the only manufacturer already capable of supplying thousands of amplifiers of the required quality and consistency.
The founders’ journey
Arctic Instruments was founded by a team of seasoned scientists with deep expertise in superconducting circuits – Mário Ribeiro, Visa Vesterinen, and Joonas Govenius. Their shared vision is to facilitate the scaling of quantum computers to tackle humanity’s most complex problems.
Their roots in VTT’s research ecosystem reflect a broader mission: translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible solutions that improve lives and protect the planet. For Arctic Instruments, every amplifier represents a step closer to realising the immense promise of quantum computing.
A future defined by quantum excellence
As the quantum race accelerates, Arctic Instruments is well-positioned to play a pivotal role. Its ability to deliver amplifiers of unmatched quality and scalability addresses a core challenge in the quantum ecosystem, setting the stage for transformative computing power. By bridging research and commercialisation, the company embodies the spirit of innovation, ensuring quantum computing progresses to practical application.
“We have reached a level of maturity where our capability to fabricate and test our amplifiers in volume is industry leading. In the bigger picture, the development of quantum computers remains very much a challenge, and their potential applications also remain an active topic of research. What is clear is the need to scale up, without compromising the quality of any of the critical components. We contribute to this effort by constantly improving both the quality and consistency of our near-quantum-limited amplifiers, which are key to accurate qubit state measurements. The dedicated company and funding we now have allows us to boost our development efforts significantly,” said Joonas Govenius, CEO and Co-founder of Arctic Instruments.
“Arctic Instruments is a competent team that has been able to create a product that solves one of quantum computing’s most critical challenges. The product is based on several years of research. It is very difficult to produce a component that is accurate and reliable at the same time, and works today,” said Timo Ahopelto, founding partner at Lifeline Ventures.
“VTT has invested in the research and development of superconducting and quantum technologies for several decades. Our goal is to make these results available to companies, and spin-off companies are one important way to do this. Arctic Instruments is a great example of how results of long-term top research are commercialised and scaled up into a global business,” added Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, Vice President, Microelectronics and Quantum Technology.
