ORCA Computing acquires GXC's integrated photonics division

UK quantum computing company ORCA Computing has announced the acquisition of the Austin, Texas-based Integrated Photonics Division of GXC. 

This division is known for delivering advanced photonics solutions to top US commercial and government entities, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 

Established in 2019, ORCA Computing is a leading developer and provider of full-stack photonic quantum computing systems. 

Originating from the University of Oxford and anchored in a modular optical fibre-based architecture, ORCA's proprietary methods of manipulating the time, frequency and switching of single photons pave the way for quantum computing using significantly fewer components.

In 2022, the company was selected to lead the record £11.6 million grant project from the UK government to construct a quantum data centre of the future. It has raised over $15 million in funding.

Last year, ORCA supplied the UK Ministry of Defense's first quantum computer, in addition to three other installations in 2023. 

This current acquisition leapfrogs the company ahead, bypassing years of investment in and exploration of traditional integrated photonics materials. It positions the company at the forefront of the worldwide race to deliver powerful, scalable quantum computers. 

In connection with the acquisition, ORCA Computing acquired photonics-related assets of GXC, including intellectual property and existing technology. 

The Texas-based team, bringing over a century of combined industry experience, will merge with ORCA Computing's existing teams.

Through this acquisition, ORCA will bring to market new and promising hybrid photonic materials, enhancing the performance of ORCA's current PT Series products and achieving significant progress toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing in 2024, and beyond.

According to Richard Murray, PhD, co-founder, and CEO of ORCA Computing:

"We are thrilled to welcome some of the best and brightest minds in integrated photonics to the ORCA family.

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."

Krzysztof Kurowski, Technical Director at Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center in Poland, shared: 

"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."

Lead image: Michael Dziedzic.