Inside the Race to Build the World’s Most Powerful Quantum Chips
Quantum computing, long seen as a distant breakthrough, is quickly inching closer to commercial reality. Tech giants and startups alike are striving to develop quantum chips capable of solving problems that traditional computers simply cannot.
Quantum computers promise breakthroughs in fields like medicine, cybersecurity, materials science, and chemistry. However, to make this vision a reality, companies first need to solve immediate technical challenges—chief among them, creating chips that can reliably manage large numbers of qubits (quantum bits).
While major players like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon dominate headlines, a new generation of startups is making serious advances by addressing issues like error correction, connectivity, and chip scalability. Here’s a look at the key players shaping the future of quantum hardware:
Akhetonics
German startup Akhetonics is betting on an all-optical, general-purpose chip, standing out in a field where most companies focus on niche solutions. Its unique approach secured €6 million in seed funding from Matterwave Ventures in late 2024.
Alice & Bob
Based in France, Alice & Bob raised $104 million in Series B funding in January 2025 to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer using cat qubits—a type of superconducting qubit designed to minimize errors.
Amazon
Amazon joined the quantum chip race with Ocelot, its first quantum chip developed alongside Caltech. This complements AWS’s earlier quantum initiatives, including the Braket service.
Atom Computing
This U.S. company specializes in quantum computers based on optically trapped neutral atoms. It partnered with Microsoft to launch a commercial quantum system by 2025.
D-Wave
Canadian company D-Wave continues to refine quantum annealing through its Advantage2 system, using quantum physics to solve optimization problems.
EeroQ
Illinois startup EeroQ focuses on helium-based quantum chips and is expanding its footprint in Chicago with public support and private funding.
Fujitsu and RIKEN
Japan’s Fujitsu and RIKEN scaled their superconducting quantum computer to 256 qubits in 2025, doubling their previous capacity.
Google’s Willow chip, announced in December 2024, improves quantum error correction and supports theories about computation across parallel universes, according to Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven.
IBM
IBM’s advancements include the Condor chip (1,121 qubits) and Heron processor (156 qubits) designed for enhanced performance and lower error rates.
Intel
Intel’s Tunnel Falls chip (12 qubits) launched in 2023, with the company aiming to advance silicon spin qubit technology.
IonQ
IonQ is a U.S. company focusing on trapped-ion quantum computers and recently expanded by acquiring Canadian firm Entangled Networks.
IQM
Finnish startup IQM builds superconducting quantum computers and has raised significant EU-backed funding to scale its operations.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s Majorana chip, introduced in early 2025, leverages a topological architecture aimed at paving the way for a quantum supercomputer within the next decade.
Pasqal
French startup Pasqal takes a full-stack approach with neutral atom-based quantum computers, earning significant venture funding.
PsiQuantum
Using photonics, PsiQuantum aims to build a million-qubit machine. Its Omega chipset, made at GlobalFoundries, marks a big step forward.
Qilimanjaro
Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro focuses on analog quantum circuits and is scaling quickly with local government support.
Quandela
Founded in 2017, Quandela develops photonic quantum computers and recently secured €50 million through France’s 2030 tech initiative.
Quantinuum
Formed by merging Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Quantinuum is pushing boundaries with its H-Series trapped-ion computers.
QuantWare
Dutch startup QuantWare introduced VIO, a proprietary 3D chip architecture, and raised €20 million to further its work on scalable quantum processors.
QuEra
Boston’s QuEra is betting on neutral atoms for scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing, with support from Google and SoftBank.
Rigetti Computing
Rigetti focuses on superconducting tech, collaborating with Taiwan’s Quanta Computer to accelerate quantum commercialization.
SEEQC
Spun out of Hypres, SEEQC is advancing energy-efficient quantum computing and has partnered with Nvidia for faster quantum-to-GPU communication.
SpinQ
Chinese startup SpinQ designs portable quantum computers based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology.
Xanadu
Canadian startup Xanadu introduced the Aurora system in early 2025, utilizing photonic quantum computing to build scalable solutions.
Final Thoughts
The global race to build commercially viable quantum chips is heating up. Whether from Silicon Valley giants or bold European startups, innovations in chip design could soon unlock the next great leap in computing power.
