Logical qubits start outperforming physical qubits
Quantinuum closes in on breakeven point in quantum error correction
Broomfield, Colorado, August 4th, 2022 — Quantinuum researchers have hit a significant milestone by entangling logical qubits in a fault-tolerant circuit using real-time quantum error correction. The research, published in a new scientific paper that was released on August 3rd, is the first experimental comparison study of different quantum error correction codes in similar environments and presents a collection of several different experiments. These experiments include:
- The first demonstration of entangling gates between two logical qubits done in a fully fault-tolerant manner using real-time error correction
- The first demonstration of a logical entangling circuit that has higher fidelity than the corresponding physical circuit.
This milestone achievement is important because it marks the first time that logical qubits have been shown to outperform physical qubits — a critical step towards fault-tolerant quantum computers.
“Quantinuum’s trapped-ion quantum computing roadmap is designed around continuous upgrades, enabled our flexible architecture and our precision control capabilities. This combination provides for outstanding, first-of-its-kind achievements that help accelerate the entire industry,” said Tony Uttley, President and COO of Quantinuum.
David Hayes, a Theory and Architecture Technical Manager at Quantinuum and co-author of the new research paper, said the research moves quantum computing closer to the point where encoded circuits outperform more primitive operations.
“People have worked with error corrected qubits before, but they haven't reached this sort of special point where the encoded operation is working better than the primitive operation,” Hayes said. “The other thing that's new here is that in other experiments we're doing the error correction while we're doing the operations. An important next step for us is to get the error rate induced by the error correction itself down further."
The findings are described in the new research paper, “Implementing Fault-tolerant Entangling Gates on the Five-Qubit code and the Color Code”. The paper was recently published on the arXiv. Scientists used both the H1-1 and the H1-2 quantum computers, Powered by Honeywell, to compare the Five-Qubit error code and the Distance Three Color Code in these tests.
Quantum researchers are in the early days of experimental quantum error correction with a multitude of codes to test. Quantinuum researchers can explore a wider range of quantum error codes, compared to other quantum hardware designs, due to the architecture of the machine.
The System Model H1 uses a trapped-ion design and a quantum charged coupled device architecture (QCCD). Along with the inherent flexibility of this design, another strength is all-to-all connectivity. All the qubits are connected to each other which makes it easy to move information through chains of ions without creating multiple errors along the way.
“Instead of having to build a new machine every time we want to try a new code, we can just program the machine to run a different code, make the measurements and weigh the different pros and cons,” Hayes said.
Advancing quantum error correction
All forms of technology need error correction including servers in data centers and space probes sending transmissions back to Earth. For Quantinuum and other companies in the quantum computing sector, quantum error correction is one of the most important pillars of progress. Errors prevent quantum computers from producing reliable results before they are overwhelmed. Quantinuum’s researchers are working toward the milestone of fault tolerance, meaning the errors can be suppressed to arbitrarily low levels.
Natalie Brown, another co-author of the paper and an Advanced Physicist at Quantinuum, said that most classical error correction principles fail with quantum computers because of the basic nature of quantum mechanics.
“It becomes very difficult to suppress noise to very small levels, and that becomes a problem in quantum computing,” she said. “The most promising candidate was this quantum error correction, where we take the physical qubits, make a logical qubit.”
Logical qubits are groups of physical qubits working together to perform a computation. For each physical qubit used in a computation, other ancillary qubits perform a range of tasks such as spotting and correcting errors as they occur.
Ciaran Ryan-Anderson, a Senior Advanced Physicist at Quantinuum and also a co-author of the new paper, said the newest research paper builds on research performed in 2021 and published in Physical Review X. That work explained how researchers at Honeywell Quantum Solutions applied multiple rounds of quantum error correction to a single logical qubit.
“One of the first really important things to demonstrate was these repeated rounds of quantum error correction cycles,” he said.
That is one of several milestones on Ryan-Anderson’s quantum error correction checklist:
- Conduct repeated rounds of fault tolerant quantum error correction
- Feed forward and conditionally apply syndrome extraction
- Enable real-time determination of correction for a quantum error correction code
- Demonstrate general algorithmic real-time decoding
- Scale up quantum error correction with two logical qubits
- Hit the breakeven point when logical quantum computing starts to outperform physical quantum computing
“Quantinuum has achieved some of the milestones required to accomplish this now,” Ryan-Anderson said.
Five-Qubit Code vs. Color Code
Building upon the 2021 research involving one logical qubit, the newest research illustrates the Quantinuum team’s progress with quantum error correction and two logical qubits. The team tested two error codes familiar to quantum experts: the Five-Qubit Code and the Color Code. The Five-Qubit Code does not allow for a fault tolerant transversal gate using only two logical qubits. Researchers used “pieceable” fault tolerance to decompose an initially non-fault tolerant logical gate operation into pieces that are individually fault-tolerant. The Color Code, however, does allow the use of a transversal CNOT gate which is naturally fault-tolerant.
How the experiment worked
H1-2 can use up to 12 qubits and H1-1 can use up to 20. The Five-Qubit Code tested on H1-2 while the Color Code tested on H1-1. Both computers use the same surface electrode ion trap to control ytterbium ions as qubits. Ion transport to isolated gate zones with focused laser beams provides low crosstalk gate and mid-circuit measurement operations.
The researchers ran five experiments with different combinations of circuit elements to test the Five-Qubit Code and to understand the impact of fault tolerant design and circuit depth. The team found that the extra circuitry designed to increase fault tolerance had a negative impact on the overall fidelity of the logical operation, due to the large number of CNOT operations required.
The Color Code showed much better results due in part to the ability to use a transversal CNOT gate. The team ran seven experiments to investigate the fault tolerant potential of these codes. With the Color Code, the researchers found that the State Preparation and Measurement circuits benefitted from the addition of fault tolerant circuitry with a significant reduction of error rates: 99.94% for the logical qubits compared to 99.68% for the physical qubits. This was the only additional circuitry required to make the circuit fault tolerant from end-to-end, since the logical CNOT is transversal and naturally fault tolerant.
The researchers concluded that the “relatively economical fault tolerant circuitry of the Color Code will provide a better platform for computation than the qubit efficient five-qubit code.” Also, the researchers found that the Five-Qubit Code would be useful only in systems with far lower physical error rates than quantum computers have at this point in time.
Hayes said the team’s next step will be to surpass the breakeven point and provide proof of the work. “We are getting evidence that we're really darn close to that point, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done to actually prove it,” he said. “Just getting right there is not good enough, you have to actually get past it.”
A new classical+quantum connection
Another advance from this experiment is a new classical processor with enhanced capabilities which will be essential to scalable algorithmic decoders. The data from the classical functions were used to dictate the control flow and operations executed in the quantum program.
The decoders used in these experiments were partially written in Rust and compiled to WebAssembly (Wasm). The choice of Wasm provides an efficient, safe, and portable classical language to have functions that are callable from quantum programs.
The decoder implemented in Rust uses many high-level program constructs. The support for these features means that various scalable algorithmic decoders can be ergonomically implemented in various high-level languages that compile to Wasm (such as Rust, C, and C++) and called from quantum programs.
“It was pretty enabling for this particular experiment, and it'll be even more important for future experiments as these things get more and more complicated,” Hayes said.
Another advantage of the trapped ion architecture is the ability to do real-time decision making during the execution of the quantum circuit thanks to long coherence times and the ability to do mid-circuit measurement and reset qubits as needed.
“Our systems have very long coherence times which is super advantageous when integrating in the classical compute real-time decision making,” Hayes said.
The Honeywell Trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc. Honeywell International Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to this product. This product is produced by Quantinuum.
About Quantinuum
Quantinuum, the world’s largest integrated quantum company, pioneers powerful quantum computers and advanced software solutions. Quantinuum’s technology drives breakthroughs in materials discovery, cybersecurity, and next-gen quantum AI. With over 500 employees, including 370+ scientists and engineers, Quantinuum leads the quantum computing revolution across continents.
Charlotte, N.C., September 4th, 2025 — Honeywell today announced an approximately $600 million equity capital raise for Quantinuum, developer of the world’s highest-performing quantum computer, at a pre-money equity valuation of $10 billion.
Quanta Computer, NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture capital arm) and QED Investors have joined existing shareholders JPMorganChase, Mitsui, Amgen, Cambridge Quantum Holdings, Serendipity Capital and Honeywell — all of whom have reinvested in this round. The round also includes participation from new investors MESH and Korea Investment Partners.
This capital raise will support Quantinuum’s advancement of quantum computing at scale, which includes continued progress toward the upcoming launch of Helios, the company’s next generation quantum computing system that is expected to launch this year. It will also support Quantinuum’s path to becoming the first to perform universal fault-tolerant computing.
A full-stack quantum computing provider, Quantinuum is accelerating commercially useful quantum computing with commercially available quantum computers that are the undisputed leaders in performance. Along with some of the most used developer tools and end-applications such as InQuanto, the company’s solutions are driving breakthrough scientific discoveries, economic growth and sustainable development.
Quantinuum continues increasing its commercial momentum and earning global recognition. The company will work with NVIDIA as a founding collaborator on breakthroughs at the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center. Additionally, Quantinuum has entered strategic partnerships aimed at innovative quantum computing solutions that will expand the capabilities of classical artificial intelligence and realize next-generation technologies. Quantinuum recently announced partnerships and collaborations with RIKEN, SoftBank Corp., Infineon and STFC Hartree Center, as well as expansions into New Mexico, Qatar and Singapore.
The company’s collaborations collectively provide substantial investment, accelerating research and development, product development, scaling manufacturing capabilities, securing supply chains and fostering the overall growth of the quantum technologies industry. For example, the company’s Joint Venture in Qatar was selected to deliver advanced quantum computing infrastructure and solutions to the region as part of Qatar’s $1 billion investment over the next decade. In Singapore, Quantinuum is enabling access to the company’s advanced quantum computer, and to explore and collaborate on quantum use cases, focusing on computational biology.
Vimal Kapur, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell:
“Quantinuum continues to meet and exceed our stated objectives — strategically, technically and commercially. We have complete confidence in Quantinuum’s ability to continue to lead the quantum revolution and create long-term value for its investors and customers.”
Scot Baldry, Chief Technology Officer of JPMorganChase:
“We have seen firsthand the transformative potential of Quantinuum’s technology. We are looking forward to continuing our work together to help accelerate innovation and move closer toward solving real-world problems through quantum applications.”
Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO of Quantinuum:
“We are proud to partner with investors who share deep conviction in our vision for the future of quantum and AI. With the continued support of our customers and supply chain partners, this new funding will further extend our leadership, accelerate our roadmap and strengthen the entire quantum ecosystem.”
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive placement agent to Quantinuum in connection with the financing. Freshfields LLP acted as external legal counsel.
About Honeywell
Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition – underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter, safer, as well as more secure and sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
About Quantinuum
Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across all industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 630 employees, including 370+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.
For more information, please visit www.quantinuum.com
The Honeywell trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc.
Honeywell makes no representations or warranties with respect to this service.
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Tokyo, Japan, August 19th, 2025 — Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”), QSimulate, and Quantinuum today announced the launch of a new quantum-integrated chemistry platform, QIDO (Quantum-Integrated Discovery Orchestrator). This platform aims to reduce the time and cost of developing new drugs and materials. QIDO accelerates research and development through high-precision chemical reaction modeling and seamlessly combines the advantages of cutting-edge classical computing and quantum computing.
Built for commercial impact, QIDO streamlines complex quantum-classical hybrid workflows and helps companies make decisions earlier in the development process, contributing to a powerful competitive advantage in innovation. The platform is designed to support research across an array of chemistry-based fields, including advanced materials design, clean energy, and drug development.
Proprietary Technology Supporting QIDO
QIDO seamlessly integrates QSimulate's software “QSP Reaction,” which enables calculations on the scale of thousands of atoms using the highest precision classical quantum chemistry methods and techniques. QIDO also integrates with Quantinuum's “InQuanto" software, which interfaces with state-of-the-art quantum emulators and world-leading Quantinuum Systems hardware. InQuanto™ achieves up to 10 times higher accuracy in simulations of complex molecules and materials compared to open-source software.
- Makoto Koshida, General Manager, Quantum Innovation Department, Mitsui: “We take a market-needs-based approach, aiming to bridge the gap between providing practical features that help customers solve today's challenges and preparing them for the coming quantum era. This approach enables customers to maximize its benefits from day one when quantum technology comes into its own.”
- Toru Shiozaki, Ph.D., President & CEO, QSimulate: “Combining best-in-class quantum chemical simulation with deep quantum computing expertise, QIDO gives industrial chemists powerful, intuitive algorithms and tools to tackle complex chemical challenges with speed and accuracy. We are excited about the marriage between years of innovation in quantum chemistry automation and the future of quantum computation.”
- Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO, Quantinuum: “Adding the benefits of chemical accuracy and computational efficiency of quantum-native simulations in applications of chemistry is a key step forward in revolutionizing the economics of discovery in several significant end markets, such as pharmaceuticals and energy. Quantinuum is proud to offer the industry's highest-performing quantum computers and widely used quantum chemistry software to enable this progress.”
QIDO Use Cases and Future Expansion
QIDO is launched together with a high-precision chemical reaction analysis module based on the so-called active space approach. Potential use cases are as follows:
- Catalysts and enzyme design: Simulating complex electron behavior to inform high-efficiency catalysts and enzymes design for cleaner energy, greener manufacturing, and advanced biocatalysis (useful in drug discovery, food processing, biofuel, etc.).
- Reaction mechanism elucidation: Enabling deeper understanding of complex chemical reaction pathways, including transient intermediates and excited states, for material stability, performance, and lifetime improvements.
- Battery efficiency and energy storage: Enhancing battery materials and performance for safer, longer-lasting, and higher-capacity energy storage.
- Sustainable materials and energy: Advancing energy-efficient materials, improving carbon capture and reuse, and supporting green ammonia and hydrogen production.
QIDO will gradually add new features to accelerate innovation in high-impact use cases, such as battery innovation and drug development. Innovation in these fields through quantum technology will be realized through 'co-creation' with our customers.
Feedback from Industry Leaders
As QIDO's exclusive distributor in Japan and a strategic partner with an eye toward future “co-creation,” Mitsui & Co. is leading domestic sales and distribution, laying the foundation for future global expansion. Prior to the general release of QIDO in the Japanese market, Mitsui & Co. conducted beta testing with three industry-leading companies.
- JSR Corporation: “The platform provided by QSimulate lowers the barriers to computation by simplifying input, automating error handling, and focusing output on necessary information, making it an integral tool in the daily workflows of synthetic organic chemists at JSR. With this platform now extended to support quantum chemistry calculations on quantum computers via InQuanto, it offers a path to an early quantum advantage.” – Yu-ya Ohnishi, Ph.D., Research Fellow & Deputy Director, R&D Technology & Digital Transformation Center, Materials Informatics Promotion Office
- Panasonic Holdings Corporation: “This platform provides users with a tool to intuitively perform chemical reaction simulations through a graphical user interface. In the anticipated era of large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computing, materials simulation is regarded as a promising application domain. Integrated with quantum computing, this platform is expected to offer opportunities for early-stage validation in preparation for future breakthroughs.” – Takahiro Ohgoe, Ph.D., Senior Lead Researcher, Green Innovation Center, Green Transformation Division
- Chugai Pharmaceutical: “This application offers an intuitive interface that combines user-friendly operability with clear, instantly interpretable result visualization—making reaction pathway exploration easier and more efficient than ever. At present, we recognize several technical challenges in applying the system to complex molecular calculations encountered in drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. As these challenges are steadily addressed, we expect this application to play a meaningful role in accelerating and optimizing the synthesis and process development of candidate molecules with complex chemical structures—ultimately contributing to innovation in drug discovery and the advancement of pharmaceutical development.” – Akihiko Arakawa, Ph.D., Data Science Group, Digital Solution Dept., Digital Transformation Unit
Notable Functions of QIDO
QIDO is equipped with various functions to streamline high-precision chemical modeling. This makes quantum chemistry technology, which was previously only available to experts, more accessible for use in industrial settings.
- Automatically identify reaction coordinates and transition states from specified reactants and products;
- Map strongly correlated systems to compact Hamiltonians using quantum embedding and automated active space selection techniques;
- Support customizable active spaces and computational methods to balance accuracy and cost;
- Provides optimized energy calculations for reactants, products, and transition states using quantum hardware and their emulators;
- Visualizes quantum circuits and reports the required quantum resources.
For purchases, trial applications, and other details, please visit: https://mitsui-q.com/en/qido/.
About Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Mitsui & Co. is a global trading and investment company with a presence in more than 60 countries and a diverse business portfolio covering a wide range of industries.
The company identifies, develops, and grows its businesses in partnership with a global network of trusted partners including world leading companies, combining its geographic and cross-industry strengths to create long-term sustainable value for its stakeholders.
Mitsui has set three key strategic initiatives for its current Medium-term Management Plan: supporting industries to grow and evolve with stable supplies of resources and materials, and providing infrastructure; promoting a global transition to low-carbon and renewable energy; and empowering people to lead healthy lives through the delivery of quality healthcare and access to good nutrition.
For more information, please visit: https://www.mitsui.com/jp/en/index.html
About QSimulate
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Boston, MA, QSimulate is a leader in quantum simulation technology for materials development and life sciences. The company offers a range of products and services designed to leverage the power of quantum mechanics to solve industrial-scale problems like never before.
For more information, please visit: https://qsimulate.com/
About Quantinuum
Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across key industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 550 employees, including 370+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.
For more information, please visit: https://www.quantinuum.com
Doha, Qatar, May 20th, 2025 — Invest Qatar, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, has inked a strategic agreement with Quantinuum, the world leader in quantum computing and developer of the world’s highest-performing quantum computer. The partnership aims to strengthen Qatar’s quantum computing ecosystem by supporting Quantinuum’s recently announced expansion into the region, which was highlighted last week by the President of the United States during his historic state visit to Qatar.
Through this partnership, Invest Qatar will provide tailored support services to Quantinuum, including access to key stakeholders, sector-specific insights and opportunities for collaboration with local innovation and research institutions. Invest Qatar will also promote initiatives that drive quantum computing adoption and raise awareness of Quantinuum’s contributions to Qatar’s tech landscape. Through this partnership, Invest Qatar will support Quantinuum’s expansion into the country to apply quantum technologies for the benefit of key sectors in Qatar, while enhancing local research and development (R&D) capabilities, to create high-skilled jobs and train the next generation quantum workforce in Qatar. This includes facilitating connections with key stakeholders, enabling collaboration in R&D, and aligning with national initiatives aimed at advancing quantum technologies.
As part of the agreement, Quantinuum will play a central role in advancing Qatar’s quantum capabilities by launching a range of targeted initiatives, including knowledge-sharing platforms, educational seminars and technical workshops delivered by Quantinuum’s global experts. The partnership also envisions launching joint research projects with Qatari academic and research institutions, exploring opportunities for local integration of quantum technologies and facilitating access to Quantinuum’s cutting-edge quantum computing infrastructure. Additionally, internship opportunities will be offered to students from Qatar-based universities, providing direct experience in real-world quantum computing applications.
Commenting on the partnership, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO, Invest Qatar, said: “This partnership with Quantinuum reflects our continued commitment to positioning Qatar at the forefront of next-generation technologies. By combining global expertise with local ambition, we aim to cultivate a thriving quantum ecosystem that drives innovation, supports economic diversification and empowers future talent. We are pleased to work with Quantinuum to unlock the transformative potential of quantum computing for Qatar and the wider region.”
Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO, Quantinuum, said: “Launching our presence in Qatar opens an exciting new chapter in a region ready to lead in quantum computing. Building on our recently announced expansion into the country through our joint venture with Al Rabban Capital, and our ongoing partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, this collaboration with Invest Qatar reinforces our commitment to the growth of Qatar’s quantum computing ecosystem. As part of the deepening strategic ties between the U.S. and Qatar, we’re enabling direct access to our world-leading quantum hardware and software, creating value for academia and industry in Qatar while training the next generation of quantum developers and researchers to strengthen the region’s position as a global hub for advanced technologies.”
About Invest Qatar
The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) is responsible for overseeing investment promotion activities, aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to Qatar. Established in 2019, Invest Qatar’s mission is to strengthen Qatar’s position as an ideal investment destination, while facilitating investments that foster economic diversification and development.
As the gateway to investment solutions, Invest Qatar connects investors to an integrated ecosystem of business and licensing platforms. The Agency partners with investors throughout their journey, from exploration and setup to expansion, ensuring their long-term growth by providing comprehensive insights into Qatar’s business landscape, sector-specific market knowledge and tailored investment facilitation.
For more information, please visit www.invest.qa
@InvestQatar | #InvestQatar
About Quantinuum
Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across all industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 550 employees, including 370+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.
For more information, please visit www.quantinuum.com