IBM is partnering with QxBranch on quantum computing

IBM announced this week that it’s partnering with a group of startups to further develop quantum computing.

A D.C. startup is among them.

Through the partnership, QxBranch will get access to technology in its Q network, which launched in December 2017 to bring together business, government and academic leaders together to advance quantum computing.

Now Big Blue announced the first eight startups that will be involved.

.@IBM Collaborating With Top Startups to Accelerate #QuantumComputing https://t.co/SobYLGHa0o #IBMQ @Strangeworks @1QB_it @qctrlHQ @Q_Benchmark @qxbranch @zapatacomputing pic.twitter.com/N5XRBiwHvH

— IBM Research (@IBMResearch) April 5, 2018

The access for QxBranch will be on the same level as corporate partners, with deeper access to APIs and software tools, as well as consultations. QxBranch will also provide feedback.

“It provides us with opportunity to develop and validate commercial applications for business and government,” said QxBranch CEO Michael Brett. Among those areas of interest are machine learning and risk analytics. Brett also pointed to quantum computing and supply chain and logistics as areas of interest.

Brett added that IBM is “one of the world leaders in quantum computing technology and certainly the leader in making it accessible in helping to make an ecosystem of users.”

As we’ve reported, QxBranch is headquartered in D.C. at MakeOffices in Dupont Circle, but has a distributed team of about 20 people across four continents. The startup spun out from the Virginia-based Tauri Group.