Since it was introduced in February, the Azure Quantum Credits program has attracted applicants ranging from enterprise innovators and solution partners to academic researchers and student explorers. It has been exciting to see the diversity of proposals submitted – featuring the use of quantum hardware accessible through Azure Quantum to investigate novel use cases, experiment with state-of-the-art algorithms, and pursue applications in industries like chemistry and materials sciences.
From New York to Tennessee, Hyderabad to Verona, and Finland to Canada—we’re delighted to be the quantum platform of choice for research in areas as diverse as molecular energy estimation, quantum computer crosstalk, protein folding dynamics, quantum machine learning for price prediction, and quantum detection of cardiovascular events in cardiac signals.
We are pleased to showcase the creativity and energy of three of our credit recipients—the University of Washington, Bar-Ilan University, and KPMG in collaboration with the Danish Technical University (DTU)—who leveraged IonQ and or Quantinuum hardware through the Credits program.
Watch the video below to see these projects in action
The benefits of getting hands-on with quantum hardware in a classroom setting are clear. As Kai-Mei Fu, Professor of Physics at the University of Washington, described, “Our students had never accessed hardware. Many people think that you can just do everything on a simulator. It turns out, there are some surprising results that happen when you use a real quantum computer that are very important. It’s extremely valuable to be on real machines through Azure Quantum.”
Professor Emanuele Dalla Torre, of Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Physics, added “Azure Quantum allows you to connect to different quantum computers. Through this, we were able to see that what we had imagined in our theoretical analysis was happening in the real world on a quantum computer. Our experiment with Azure Quantum gave us a hint of what the possible near-term applications of quantum computing are.“
In a public-private research endeavor, solution partner KPMG collaborated with DTU on neural networks-focused research using Azure Quantum Credits.
Bent Dalager, Partner and Global Head of KPMG’s Quantum Hub, noted, “Azure Quantum democratized the ability to use quantum computing. Instead of having to rely on a specific piece of hardware, through a language layer, you can pursue quantum computing through Azure Quantum in a tremendously more efficient way.”
In the last six months, the Azure Quantum Credits program has expanded from its initial offering of IonQ Harmony and Quantinuum H1 quantum processing units (QPUs). The associated simulator and emulator also now offer experimentation on IonQ Aria’s 23 algorithmic qubit system, Quantinuum H2, and Rigetti’s 40 qubit Aspen-11 and latest 80 qubit modular chip Aspen-M-1 endpoints.
Coming soon, Pasqal’s neutral atom-based quantum technology will be available in the Azure Quantum Credits program, allowing innovators and explorers to harness Pasqal’s impressive qubit connectivity and the ability to directly manipulate neutral atoms.
The enthusiasm we’ve enjoyed during our weekly office hours about Azure Quantum Credits has been palpable and we’ve appreciated the benefit of community feedback in continuously improving the Credits program. For quantum educators, the Azure Quantum Credits program is a cornerstone of our one-stop resource for curriculum, samples, and tools to facilitate the skilling up of a quantum-ready workforce.
Along with the $500 in credits available to all users to experiment with Azure Quantum’s participating hardware partners, we are eager to continue to empower practitioners and researchers to explore solutions on today’s leading quantum hardware using Azure Quantum Credit grants. Accelerate your exploration and apply today.