Israeli Startup Qedma and IBM Achieve Breakthrough in Quantum Computing Research
Dr. Assif Sinai, CEO of the Israeli startup Qedma, expressed great pride in a recent scientific experiment conducted jointly with IBM that stunned the quantum computing industry. The experiment, announced last week, demonstrated a new computational method that could significantly accelerate global computing power, potentially advancing drug development and artificial intelligence. The research marked the first documented achievement of "quantum advantage," where a quantum computer outperformed a supercomputer with 700,000 cores by solving a previously unsolved physical problem.
Qedma, founded in 2020 by Prof. Dorit Aharonov, Prof. Netanel Lindner, and Dr. Assif Sinai, specializes in cloud services that enhance quantum computer efficiency. The company, employing 40 staff including 18 PhDs in physics and mathematics, raised $31 million from investors including IBM and Korean Investment Partners. The experiment was performed on an IBM superconducting quantum chip and replicated on a trapped-ion quantum computer from Quantinuum, confirming consistent results across different technologies.
The breakthrough addresses the major challenge of "noise", instability in quantum particles like electrons and photons, by using Qedma's software and algorithms to stabilize quantum processors. Although the achievement is scientific rather than commercial, Sinai anticipates that within three years quantum computing will impact multiple sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals, materials science, AI, and cybersecurity.
The experiment involved simulating how millions of electrons in a crystal respond to laser light, a problem classical computers cannot solve at scale. The research was conducted in a Japanese lab equipped with a supercomputer and quantum computers from IBM and Quantinuum, lending strong scientific validation. Sinai revealed that the initiative originated from Qedma, with extensive collaboration and late-night discussions with IBM and Japanese partners.
Despite the scientific excitement, Wall Street showed limited reaction, with IBM and Quantinuum stocks barely moving. Sinai is cautious about going public, noting that quantum computing companies face volatile markets and that Qedma will consider an IPO only after demonstrating commercial quantum advantage. He highlighted that some financial institutions like JP Morgan are already preparing for the quantum era by building dedicated algorithm engineering teams.
Sinai, a Weizmann Institute quantum physics PhD graduate, returned to the field after working in augmented reality. He credits advice from his co-founders and leading Israeli quantum experts that software error correction is key to reliable quantum computing, a challenge AI alone cannot solve. Qedma continues to develop its technology from its Tel Aviv offices, aiming to lead the quantum computing revolution.
