Alibaba Cloud and CAS Launch One of the World’s Most Powerful Public Quantum Computing Services

Quantum Computing Cloud Platform now offers superconducting 11 qubits processor

Hefei, China, [March 1, 2018] – Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China’s leading academic and research institute have launched the superconducting quantum computing cloud, featuring a quantum processor with 11 quantum bits (qubits) of power. This is in the top two of the most powerful public quantum computing services available in the world to date and offers a range of features including being able to work at extreme temperatures as low as 10mk (or -273 degrees Celsius).

Users can now access the superconducting quantum computing cloud through Alibaba Cloud’s quantum computing cloud platform to efficiently run and test custom built quantum codes and download the results.

Dubbed the “ultimate computing power” of the Mother Nature, quantum computing is seen as a solution that can perform calculations at a rate far beyond that of traditional computers. With this ground-breaking quantum technology offered by CAS and Alibaba Cloud, users will be able to run and trial their quantum algorithms in order to learn more about the features and capabilities including the performance of the processor and any existing technological barriers. Understanding more about these considerations will further push the advancement of quantum technology.

Offering quantum computing services on cloud is another breakthrough by the two parties. This will enable wider participation in overcoming technological challenges and the sharing of ideas and knowledge that will move scientists towards full utilization of this powerful technology.

Dr. Shi Yaoyun, Chief Quantum Technology Scientist at Alibaba Cloud, said: “By introducing quantum computing services on cloud, we make it easier for the teams to experiment with quantum applications in a real environment to better understand the property and performance of the hardware, as well as leading the way in developing quantum tools and software globally. The user experience offered on cloud will without doubt help us further enhance our platform.”

Alibaba Cloud has made a significant commitment to quantum technology over recent years. In July 2015, Alibaba Cloud and CAS jointly established the first quantum computing laboratory in Asia, and shortly thereafter made a breakthrough in achieving the world’s first cloud-based quantum cryptography method.

In May 2017, CAS-Alibaba Quantum Computing Laboratory participated in the development of the world’s first photon quantum computer.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com), the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, is among the world’s top 3 IaaS providers according to Gartner1, and the largest provider of public cloud services in China, according to IDC. Alibaba Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services to businesses worldwide, including merchants doing business on Alibaba Group marketplaces, start-ups, corporations and government organizations. Alibaba Cloud is the official Cloud Services Partner of the International Olympic Committee.

About CAS-Alibaba Quantum Computing Laboratory

On July 2015, Alibaba Cloud, an subsidiary of Alibaba Group, announced the opening of a brand new laboratory in conjunction with Chinese Academy of Sciences, to launch the study of quantum information technology, and quantum computers. Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovative Center in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics was founded the same day. The goal of the laboratory is to overturn the Moore’s Law, exploring the next generation ultrafast computing techniques based on the Alibaba Cloud’s technical advances in artificial intelligence, classical computing algorithms/architectures, and cloud computing; as well as the CAS’s research advances in quantum computing and simulation.