The partnership aims to deliver a quantum computer that can scale and operate on its own without the need for human supervision.
Dublin-based quantum computing startup Equal1 is partnering with Californian quantum infrastructure software maker Q-Ctrl to install rack-mounted quantum computers in corporate data centers.
The companies said that together, their technology will deliver “autonomous operation” of “high performance without manual supervision” to address the evolving challenges around the operation and maintenance of enterprise quantum computing systems.
By combining Q-Ctrl’s infrastructure software, ‘Boulder Opal Scale Up’, with Equal1’s scalable hardware, the quantum computer will be able to scale and operate on its own without the need for oversight by teams of experts, the companies said.
“Equal1 has already proven that quantum hardware can be compact, rack-mounted and data-center-readable,” said Jason Lynch, CEO of Equal1.
“Our partnership with Q-Ctrl further accelerates our work by offering a fully self-managed software stack. With Boulder Opal Scale Up integrated into our Bell series systems, our customers get a self-configuring accelerator that fits seamlessly into their existing IT infrastructure.”
In-demand features offered to prospective data center customers through the strategic partnership include independent performance and hardware scaling, real-time system monitoring and performance maintenance, secure deployment for use while disconnected from the Internet, and “algorithmic optimization” in conjunction with other Q-Ctrl software.
“In order to scale quantum computing, we have to shift from hardware operation by teams of PhD specialists to independent operation where we are fully deployed in data centers and HPC. [high-performance computing] institutions,” said Aravind Ratnam, chief strategy officer at Q-Ctrl.
“Our collaboration with Equal1 achieves this by integrating Q-Ctrl’s AI automatic calibration directly into their silicon spin qubit quantum systems. Together, these technologies provide HPC users with a seamless experience, enabling quantum processors to perform on par with GPUs and CPUs.”
Equal1, founded in 2017 at University College Dublin, claims that quantum computing using conventional silicon is a way to overcome the challenges posed by AI to the power and cost of traditional computers.
In January, it raised $60m in a funding round led by Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, with participation from Atlantic Bridge, European Innovation Council Fund, Matterwave Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, Elkstone and TNO Ventures.
Its flagship ‘Bell-1’ device was launched in March 2025 and was described as the “first ever” quantum computer made in Ireland and the first silicon-based quantum server designed for data centers and high-performance computing.
IQ-Ctrl, founded in 2017, uses partnerships with companies such as IBM, Nvidia and AWS with the goal of making machines “thousands times more powerful” using “AI-driven control solutions” to improve quantum computing performance.
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