ORCA Computing acquires integrated photonics division of GXC
The quantum computing company ORCA Computing has announced that it has acquired the integrated photonics division of GXC, a networking company based in Austin, Texas. ORCA says that this division is known for delivering advanced photonics solutions to top US commercial and government entities, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
According to ORCA, this acquisition capitalises on its momentum developed through the deployment of four PT-1 quantum photonics systems in 2023, and leapfrogs the company ahead, bypassing years of investment in and exploration of traditional integrated photonics materials. The company believes this move positions it at the forefront of the worldwide race to deliver powerful, scalable quantum computers.
In connection with the acquisition, ORCA has acquired photonics-related assets of GXC, including intellectual property and existing technology. The Texas-based team will merge with ORCA’s existing teams, bringing over a century of combined industry experience. Through this acquisition, ORCA hopes to bring to market new and promising hybrid photonic materials, enhancing the performance of the company’s current PT Series products and achieving significant progress towards scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing in 2024, and beyond.
“We are thrilled to welcome some of the best and brightest minds in integrated photonics to the ORCA family,” expressed Richard Murray, co-founder and CEO of ORCA Computing. “With this acquisition, we continue our strong track record of success, pursuing and integrating cutting-edge components to deliver the very best technology to our customers.”
Bob Sorensen, senior vice president of research and chief analyst for quantum computing at Hyperion Research, said: “ORCA's timely absorption of an integrated photonics division that has expertise with novel materials represents a well-calculated move that could provide substantial capabilities in a key QC technology sector. ORCA Computing is positioning itself to face the challenges of effectively scaling quantum computing systems and leveraging low-loss integrated photonics smartly within their modular architectures. In doing so, the company has further positioned itself to be a leader in the market.”
Steve Conway, senior analyst at Intersect360 Research, commented: “Standing out among other quantum computing companies, ORCA Computing is selling real, scalable systems that can interoperate with classical HPC systems. The addition of an in-house photonic integrated circuit design capability is a crucial differentiator for customers seeking commercially viable and performant quantum systems.”
Krzysztof Kurowski, technical director at Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center in Poland, added: “ORCA Computing has enhanced our scientific research and development by providing on-premises access to quantum computing technologies and extending our advanced photonic and quantum communication lab facilities. This strategic acquisition validates our choice of ORCA Computing, and we look forward to our collaboration as they evolve their forward-looking roadmap.”
